Utah is Testing an AI System That Renews Drug Prescriptions

Utah has drawn nationwide attention as the first state in the U.S. to conduct a pilot program in which AI is being allowed to renew medical prescriptions for patients suffering from chronic illnesses. This experiment tests the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence and also highlights the risks inherent in the “wild west” way in which AI implementation is getting ahead of oversight mechanisms.

The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with a startup called Doctronic, kicked off last month quietly. It is a test of whether AI can be trusted to undertake the sensitive task of prescribing drugs without the involvement of a human. The pilot program tests how willing patients and policymakers are in trusting AI rather than sticking to tried and tested healthcare professionals. This program could open the door to a transformation of the way in which health care is delivered across the country.

At the moment, the FDA hasn’t indicated whether it supports the move or whether such a program falls under its regulatory ambit. In case the federal agency decides that the program should fall under its mandate, there could be delays or complications arising from the resultant regulatory requirements.

Supporters and state officials say the program will help in slashing medication lapses, reduce costs and boost access to care. The move could also result in the collection of vital data that may be leveraged in shaping health care policies within and beyond Utah.

Utah and many other rural states have for long struggled with under-resourced health care budgets amid rising costs and staff shortages. Automating the renewal of prescriptions can be a way to curb cost increases while making health care more affordable for patients. Entrepreneurs also get an opportunity to innovate creatively.

However, doctors’ groups caution that delegating aspects of the drug prescription process creates new potential risks.

For instance, Doctor John Whyte, the executive VP of AMA (American Medical Association), says the system can be abused by addicts who may wish to exploit it in order to access medications that feed their addiction. Subtle clinical cues could also be missed by the automated system and yet a doctor would have identified them while interacting with a patient prior to renewing their prescription.

Questions also arise regarding how such automated systems can be regulated. Without careful consideration of how the system is implemented and regulated, risks arise not only for patients but also for health care professionals.

There have been widespread calls for enabling laws to regulate AI and the federal government insists that there should be one framework for the entire country so that innovation isn’t stifled or unduly slowed down by a patchwork of laws at state-level. How the need for guiding laws that allow rapid innovation while protecting consumers is addressed will be watched closely by major players like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA) in the AI industry.

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