Utah has become the first state to allow an AI system to issue certain initial prescriptions without a doctor reviewing the decision first, marking a significant expansion of artificial intelligence into medical care.

The program, launched Monday by Nolla Health, initially applies to Utah residents seeking treatment for acne. Patients use the company’s app to provide medical information and photographs of their skin, which the AI analyzes before determining whether one of eight approved treatments is appropriate.

Unlike conventional telehealth systems that use AI to collect information before handing the case to a physician, Nolla’s system is designed to make the initial treatment decision itself under a state-approved regulatory pilot. The resulting prescription can be sent directly to a pharmacy.

The program is limited to adults and focuses on mild-to-moderate acne, giving the technology a narrow medical role as Utah officials test whether AI can safely handle routine treatment decisions.

Nolla Health CEO Luis Wenus said the goal is to use AI to expand access to care while allowing doctors to spend more time on patients with more complicated medical needs. The company says its system was developed in consultation with Utah regulators and medical professionals.

The move follows another Utah experiment involving AI and prescription renewals. Earlier this year, the state became the first to permit an AI system to handle certain refills of medications previously prescribed by a doctor. That program initially required physician review, with the possibility of moving to direct AI-to-pharmacy renewals after meeting specified benchmarks.

The broader effort has faced opposition from medical professionals. Utah’s Medical Licensing Board previously urged the state to suspend its AI prescription-refill program, warning that medication decisions can require updated assessments of a patient’s condition, drug interactions, and side effects.

Utah’s latest move therefore represents a larger step than simply automating administrative work. For the first time in the state, an AI system is being permitted to make a defined initial prescribing decision without requiring a human clinician to approve it beforehand, although the program remains subject to specific medical and regulatory safeguards.