Utah: An AI Can Prescribe Acne Treatment Under Supervision

In Utah, Nolla Health is launching a pilot program where an AI assesses acne and can trigger a prescription. The device is accompanied by progressive medical supervision and public reservations from the Utah Medical Association. The experiment is part of a framework monitored by the State's AI Policy Office.

Doctors Demand Human Involvement and Raise Concerns About Speed

Michelle McOmber, CEO of the Utah Medical Association, believes that the use and reliance on AI in healthcare is progressing too rapidly. She emphasizes the need to maintain human physician involvement, particularly for prescribing treatments and examining patients. According to her, current AI is mainly suited for simple tasks like collecting medical histories. McOmber warns that inappropriate use of AI can pose significant health risks. More broadly, some healthcare professionals share the view that the adoption of AI in medicine is advancing too quickly, even though many consider its use inevitable as an assistance tool or for simple diagnostics. Studies indicate that doctors, surgeons, and mental health professionals are among the least likely professions to be replaced by AI.

The Pilot Proceeds Without Association Approval, Under Authority Scrutiny

Michelle McOmber clarifies that Nolla Health did not need the approval of the Utah Medical Association to launch this pilot program and that the association has never had discussions with the company. She notes that the AI Policy Office briefly exchanged views with the current president of the association, a dermatologist, and requested the Utah Medical Licensing Board's subcommittee to review and comment on the plan. This Office, which is part of the Utah Department of Commerce, is tasked with guiding responsible AI policies in the state. McOmber considers this very limited and specific use of AI acceptable but specifies that the association would not support other uses for now.

A Step-by-Step Protocol with Planned Medical Oversight

The pilot program is set to last for one year. The first 100 prescriptions generated by the AI will be supervised by a certified physician before being sent to pharmacies. If this phase is successful, the next phase will allow the AI to manage up to 400 patients, with weekly reviews of decisions by a physician. Finally, a third phase will require a physician to audit at least 10% of prescriptions each month.

Application, Severity Score, and Eight Potential Treatments

Nolla Health offers a subscription service for $5 per month, focused on skincare and acne treatment. Patients use an app to scan their face and fill out a questionnaire about their medical history. The AI then analyzes the face and assigns an acne severity score. If the scan results and medical information warrant it, a prescription is issued from a list of eight approved treatments. Nolla Health did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding this device.