Can AI safely renew your patients' prescriptions? Utah is finding out

Starting in January 2026, a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence (AI) program in Utah began renewing prescriptions for patients with chronic diseases without requiring an office visit.

Initial results suggest the program is working, but the physicians and other clinicians in charge of medical licensing in Utah say they were blindsided by it.

Doctronic LLC launched its AI-assisted prescription renewal platform in January under a state-sanctioned pilot program designed to test AI in regulated industries. In April, the Utah Medical Licensing Board demanded an immediate shutdown, warning that automated refills bypass critical clinical safeguards. State officials have kept the program running. Five months in, the data are emerging from the program’s use.

This slideshow explainer includes details about Utah’s program, drawn from information posted by the Utah Department of Commerce, the parent department of the state’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy. The Utah News Dispatch also has this report.