A startup based in New York City has launched a pilot program in Utah allowing artificial intelligence to prescribe acne medications without direct physician involvement, in a move that aims to expand access to dermatological care. The program, operated by Nolla Health, was authorized under a regulatory framework set by a division of the Utah Department of Commerce that permits companies to test AI health products under relaxed oversight.
Under the pilot, Nolla Health’s AI system will generate prescriptions for topical acne treatments, which will then be handled in phases to ensure oversight. During the initial phase, prescriptions for the first 100 patients will be reviewed by a licensed physician before being submitted to pharmacies. Next, the AI will submit prescriptions for 400 patients directly to pharmacies with physicians conducting retrospective weekly reviews. In the final phase, physicians will review at least 10% of prescriptions on a monthly basis.
Nolla Health’s CEO, Luis Wenus, said the program has received a waiver of Utah’s usual requirement that a licensed prescriber sign prescriptions. Instead, the prescriptions will carry the name of a clinician without that person generating them in real time. Wenus noted that the medications involved are limited to topical treatments with relatively low risk, primarily causing localized skin irritation or dryness. The approved drugs exclude oral pills or hormone therapies, which require closer monitoring.
The company highlights affordability and convenience as key drivers behind the initiative. Nolla Health’s app charges approximately $5 monthly for access, while compounded medication costs around $50 per month, substantially lower than typical dermatology visits that can range from $150 to $300. The startup also argues that automating routine acne care could reduce patient wait times and free up clinicians to focus on more serious skin conditions.
The launch of the pilot arrives amid ongoing debates about the role of AI in healthcare. Critics, including the American Medical Association’s chief executive John Whyte, have cautioned that AI should not practice medicine autonomously without meeting stringent standards comparable to those applied to human providers.
Prescribing authority in the U.S. has traditionally been confined to physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy (OAIP), which approved Nolla Health’s trial, granted a “narrow exception” to this requirement. Zachary Boyd, OAIP’s director, said that despite some previous controversy over a different pilot involving AI prescription refills, the limited scope of Nolla Health’s acne-focused program—with its lower-risk medications and greater physician oversight—should minimize concerns.
Earlier AI pilots faced scrutiny, including one by Doctronic, which used AI to approve medication refills for a broader range of treatments including painkillers and antidepressants. That program prompted criticism from the Utah Medical Licensing Board for lack of consultation and perceived patient safety risks. The OAIP responded by removing certain medications from the approved list and incorporating additional safeguards.
For the Nolla Health pilot, the company proactively engaged with the medical board before launching, agreeing to appoint a third-party physician overseer to enhance safety monitoring. The program is set to run for one year, with the possibility of extension for up to two additional years subject to review.
The pilot represents a notable step toward integrating AI more deeply into health care delivery, particularly for routine conditions such as acne, while navigating regulatory and safety concerns inherent to this emerging technology.