Utah is allowing an AI system to prescribe psychiatric drugs without a doctor. It’s only the second time the state – and the country – has delegated this kind of clinical authority to AI. State officials say it could bring costs down and ease care shortages, but physicians warn the system is opaque, risky, and unlikely to expand mental health care to those who need it.
The one-year pilot, announced last week, will allow Legion Health’s AI chatbot to renew certain prescriptions for psychiatric medications, in some cases. The San Francisco startup promises Utah-based patients “fast, simple refills” through a $19-a-month subscription. The prog …