Utah has launched a first-of-its-kind pilot program allowing an artificial intelligence system — without human involvement — to renew certain medical prescriptions for patients with chronic conditions. The program is being run in partnership with health-tech startup Doctronic and began quietly in late 2025.
The initiative tests whether AI can safely manage routine prescription renewals and how willing patients, regulators, and policymakers are to trust AI in a role traditionally handled by physicians. Utah officials view the program as a way to reduce costs, prevent medication lapses, and ease pressure on clinicians, especially in underserved and rural areas.
The AI system verifies that patients are in Utah, reviews their prescription history, asks clinical questions similar to those used by physicians, and sends approved renewals directly to pharmacies. The program is limited to 190 commonly prescribed medications, excluding pain management drugs, ADHD medications, and injectables.