The Utah Medical Licensing Board is calling for the immediate suspension of a state-run pilot program that uses artificial intelligence to renew drug prescriptions without physician oversight.
In a letter released April 24, 2026, the board expressed alarm over the program's implementation, stating it only learned of the agreement after the initiative had already launched.
The program is a partnership between Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy and Doctronic, an AI doctor startup. Launched in January, the initiative utilizes a chatbot capable of conducting clinical evaluations and autonomously renewing prescriptions for nearly 200 different drugs.
According to reporting from STAT, the medical board believes the lack of transparency regarding the rollout poses a direct threat to public safety. The board noted that proceeding with the agreement without consulting them potentially places Utah citizens at risk.
“Proceeding with this agreement without consulting the Medical Board potentially places Utah citizens at risk and remains a major concern of the board,” the group wrote in its formal communication.
The board issued a formal recommendation that the state halt the program immediately to allow for proper regulatory review.
“It is the strong recommendation of the Utah Medical Licensing Board that this program be immediately suspended pending further discussion,” the group wrote.
The pilot program's ability to bypass human doctors during the clinical evaluation process has become the primary point of friction between state tech officials and medical regulators.
