Utah regulators announced a plan on Monday to allow an artificial intelligence product to evaluate patients and write new drug prescriptions without prior human review. Nolla Health will launch an AI-powered service in Utah that assesses patients for mild-to-moderate acne treatment using a structured intake and by analyzing photos of their skin.

The pilot program operates under an expansion of Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy “AI sandbox” program, which allows the office to waive regulations for companies testing AI products under state supervision. This authorization marks a shift from earlier regulatory steps, as Utah started allowing AI systems to renew certain medications earlier in 2026.

Nolla Health states it is the first company in the country to issue initial prescriptions via AI, rather than renewals. Users in Utah can scan their faces using the Nolla Health app, allowing its AI system to analyze acne severity and autonomously write a prescription. The startup’s AI can currently prescribe eight different skin treatments, and the product may determine whether one of a list of low-risk drugs is appropriate for treatment.

The program applies only to Utah residents who are 18 years of age or older and have mild-to-moderate acne. It will cost $4.99 per month. Nolla Health says it will direct users to a physician if its AI system cannot confidently select a treatment.

In the first stages of the pilot, the decisions of the AI will be reviewed by a licensed clinician who will sign off on prescriptions. Two physicians will approve each AI-generated prescription before they are issued for the first 100 patients. Physicians will start reviewing prescriptions only after they are prescribed for up to 500 patients. Nolla Health may eventually be allowed to prescribe drugs without clinician review.

What's New

Nolla Health raised $4.5 million from investors including General Catalyst last year. The company will launch an AI-powered service in Utah that assesses patients for mild-to-moderate acne treatment using a structured intake and by analyzing photos of their skin.

The pilot is part of an expansion of Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy “AI sandbox” program, which allows the office to waive regulations for companies testing AI products under state supervision. Users in Utah can scan their faces using the Nolla Health app, allowing its AI system to analyze acne severity and autonomously write a prescription.

Utah regulators announced a plan on Monday to allow an artificial intelligence product to evaluate patients and write new drug prescriptions without prior human review. Physicians will start reviewing prescriptions only after they are prescribed for up to 500 patients. The Nolla Health product may determine whether one of a list of low-risk drugs is appropriate for treatment, and Nolla Health may eventually be allowed to prescribe drugs without clinician review.