Utah residents may soon encounter more artificial intelligence (AI) tools during their medical appointments, following new agreements signed by the state's Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy (OAIP). These partnerships with healthcare providers will test pilot programs designed to integrate AI into various healthcare processes, including enhancing medication refill systems and expanding offerings in dermatology and postpartum care.
The pilot programs are part of an expansion of Utah's AI regulatory sandbox capabilities. A "master agreement" has been signed with Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health, according to the OAIP. Public officials involved hope these efforts will help define state policy regarding the safety and transparency standards for this technology, with oversight from third-party evaluators.
Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, whose bill established the Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy, highlighted the potential benefits during the initiative's announcement on Monday. "Healthcare is one of those areas where there's a lot of promise here," Cullimore said. He anticipates that these initiatives will help create "better access, potentially lower costs," foster innovation within the healthcare industry, and address some existing problems.
The OAIP was already overseeing some healthcare-related pilots, including a program that uses an AI system to approve certain prescription medication renewals. This earlier initiative, however, drew criticism from members of the Utah Medical Licensing Board, who expressed concerns about not being consulted prior to its implementation and called for its suspension. Zach Boyd, director of the OAIP, stated that the office is now bringing in "more stakeholders and more expertise" to ensure pilots are executed effectively and can be scaled.
The master agreement signed with Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health specifically addresses data privacy, AI governance, and other aspects necessary for the institutions to test AI tools and report their findings back to the state. Jim Hotaling, chief innovation officer at University of Utah Health, said he is "hopeful and optimistic that these tools, when you bring critical evaluation and have a human in the loop," can lead to better patient care. He emphasized the importance of these tools as healthcare leaders anticipate a potential shortage of physicians, noting that Intermountain Health's chief strategy officer, Dan Liljenquist, indicated up to 40% of current healthcare providers are expected to retire by 2035. Liljenquist added that AI is an "important tool" to bridge this gap.
In addition to the master agreements, the state has approved three specific pilot programs with individual companies. One program involves Nolla Health, which will use AI in telehealth consultations to manage mild and moderate acne. Boyd noted that this is a "very common condition" and "comparatively low risk." Another pilot is with Expect Fitness, a telehealth company offering an "AI-enabled physical therapy pathway" to support women with postpartum recovery, urinary incontinence, and pelvic health issues, as described in a news release.
Boyd explained that this Expect Fitness program would provide patients with AI-supported intake and treatment plan development, allowing a smaller number of remote physical therapists to assist more patients from their homes. The third individual pilot is with August AI, which will implement a prescription refill program similar to one previously tested in the state. This new iteration, however, incorporates lessons learned from the earlier program. Boyd specified that key additions include the involvement of third-party evaluators to vet the program, better integration with electronic health records, an improved accountability system for the company, and a new risk formula to determine appropriate prescription types for AI management.
Margaret Busse, commissioner of the Utah Department of Commerce, indicated that with the participation of Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health in the AI sandbox, these new AI tools are expected to achieve a broader reach. Busse stated that "most patients in Utah will see it" as these institutions identify specific use cases to deploy. She also expressed the hope that Utah's AI validations could be recognized in other states as they develop their own AI standards. Senate Majority Leader Cullimore mentioned discussing these ambitions with federal delegations and officials in Washington D.C., suggesting interest in this model for potential federal adoption.
