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Editor's note: This article has been updated with a quote from Doctronic's cofounder and co-CEO.
The Utah Medical Licensing Board sent a letter last week to the Utah Department of Commerce Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy calling for the immediate suspension of the program that allows AI to renew prescriptions due to patient safety concerns.
The program, announced in January, allows an autonomous AI system powered by the AI-enabled doctor consultation platform Doctronic to legally participate in prescription renewals for patients with chronic conditions.
"We are participating in the process as designed, with defined safeguards, physician oversight of every prescription in the first phase of the program, and continued physician involvement throughout. We remain focused on demonstrating safe, evidence-based expansion of routine care access," Matt Pavelle, cofounder and co-CEO of Doctronic, told MobiHealthNews.
In its letter, the medical licensing board said that it was not consulted before the program was put in place and that "overseeing prescription refills is a task reserved for properly licensed medical practitioners for critical safety and clinical reasons."
"Each refill requires reassessment and clinical decision-making to safely adjust doses, monitor for side effects, contraindications, or new drug interactions, and ensure the medication remains effective. Patients who continue refilling medications without assessment may remain on outdated or suboptimal therapy for months or years. There is a reason prescription refills require physician authorization," the letter reads.
The board notes its support for the legislative mandate to explore AI implementation but argues that continuing the program without board input puts Utah citizens in jeopardy.
"Proceeding with this agreement without consulting the Medical Board potentially places Utah citizens at risk and remains a major concern of the board. It is imperative that professionals with medical backgrounds review all proposals prior to implementation to ensure these programs do not compromise patient safety. We must not allow AI or other financial motivations to override this obligation, yet that is precisely what occurred here," the letter said.
The board is requesting the immediate suspension of the program pending further discussion.
THE LARGER TREND
The pilot program Utah announced in January allowed Doctronic to become the first AI to legally prescribe medication refills using an autonomous AI platform.
In a statement, the state said the agreement "marks the first state-approved program in the country that allows an AI system to legally participate in medical decision-making for prescription renewals."
In January 2025, proposed legislation, sponsored by Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would allow AI and machine learning to autonomously prescribe drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The bill, H.R.238, would require amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to "clarify that artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies can qualify as a practitioner eligible, to prescribe drugs if authorized by the State involved and approved, cleared or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration and for other purposes."
If approved, section 503(b) of the FFDCA would be amended to add that the term would recognize AI as a "practitioner licensed by law to administer such drugs," including AI and machine learning technology.
The Prescription of Drugs by Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning Technologies, or, if approved, the "Healthy Technology Act of 2025," was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and is actively being legislated.
