Nolla Health has been granted authorisation by the Utah regulator to prescribe topical treatments for mild to moderate acne, at a cost of $4.99 per month, under medical supervision that will be gradually relaxed.
Nolla Health claims to be the first U.S. organization authorized by a state regulator to let an AI issue an initial prescription, not just a refill. The result of several months of work with Utah's Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, the pilot is open to adult residents via the Nolla Derm app, at a discounted rate of $4.99 per month. After identity verification, informed consent, a short questionnaire and a five-angle facial scan, the patient obtains a treatment plan and, if applicable, a prescription in 10 to 15 minutes.
Degressive supervision
For the first 100 patients, two approved doctors independently validate each prescription before sending, for at least four weeks. Up to 500 patients, the AI prescribes directly and a doctor reviews each file after the fact, at least every week. Then, at least 10% of the prescriptions will be checked each month, as well as all cases of adverse reactions. Each step requires 95% agreement with the doctors, no serious events and the written agreement of the State.
The system only chooses between pre-approved topical treatments, without a free text interface; severe acne, oral treatments such as isotretinoin, and pregnancy are referred to a doctor. The company justifies the project by access to care: in Utah, the average wait for a dermatologist is 61 days and eleven counties have none. It claims to agree 96% between its recommendations and those of clinicians on real cases.
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