Nolla Health Announces Nation's First AI to Issue Initial Prescriptions

Nolla Derm helps the 90% of Utah residents who never reach a dermatologist receive AI-issued initial acne treatment within minutes, starting at $4.99 a month

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Nolla Health, the company pioneering AI-powered personal healthcare, today announced that it has become the first organization in the country to receive regulatory approval for AI to issue initial prescriptions. Starting in Utah through its Nolla Derm app, Nolla's system will prescribe acne prescriptions to help patients better access dermatology care without a waitlist, office visit, or unaffordable bill. The system is available today, and Utah residents 18 years and older can sign up here.

"AI will matter most in healthcare when it helps people get care they otherwise would not receive," said Luis Wenus, co-founder and CEO of Nolla Health. "Growing up with a doctor in the family, I saw how powerful it was to have trusted medical help within reach, and millions of people do not have that today. With Nolla Derm, we are showing how AI can responsibly expand that access and help someone get personalized treatment in minutes instead of long waits or going without care altogether. That's the future Nolla is building towards: AI helping high-quality healthcare reach far more people."

Over 80 percent of U.S. counties are considered healthcare deserts, impacting more than 120 million people, or about one in three Americans. In Utah, an estimated 100,000 people live with active acne at any given time, yet only 10 percent ever see a dermatologist. The average wait time in Utah is 61 days, nearly double the national median, with 11 counties having no dermatologists at all. People who land an appointment can pay up to $300 per visit. For patients with untreated acne, the condition can progress to permanent scarring while they wait, driving treatment costs even further.

Nolla Derm and the Utah pilot program were built to close this access gap. Following months of collaboration with the Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence, Nolla Health secured regulatory approval for the nation's first AI system authorized to issue initial prescriptions under physician oversight. Nolla Health also met and worked directly with the Utah Medical Board ahead of launch to ensure the Board's feedback was reflected in the final program.

Unlike telehealth platforms that use AI only to collect information before handing patients off to clinicians, Nolla's AI system is designed to independently issue initial prescriptions within tightly defined, physician-approved treatment protocols. The pilot and Nolla's AI system represent a new model for delivering routine healthcare safely, quickly, and affordably at scale, particularly for patients who may otherwise never reach a physician or specialist.

How It Works
Eligible Utah residents can download the Nolla Derm app and opt into the program for a discounted rate of $4.99 a month, a fraction of the cost of traditional healthcare. After completing an informed consent process, a 10- to 15-minute intake questionnaire, and a face scan, patients receive a personalized treatment plan and prescription directly through the app in minutes. If the AI cannot confidently select a treatment, the patient is directed to a licensed physician rather than receiving an uncertain recommendation. 

Physician oversight is built into every stage of the program:

• Stage one (first 100 patients): A licensed physician reviews and approves every AI-generated prescription before it is sent to the patient.
• Stage two (first 500 patients): Prescriptions are issued by the AI autonomously, with a physician conducting a daily retroactive review.
• Stage three: A physician retroactively reviews a sampling of prescriptions once per week.

Patients receive their prescription via home delivery or pharmacy pickup. Daily skin scans track progress over time, and treatment plans are updated monthly based on each patient's response to care. Patients can message a licensed physician directly through the app at any time – they are never speaking with AI when they reach out for support.

"The Nolla Health pilot program represents a significant step forward in leveraging AI to improve healthcare access for Utahns, while maintaining rigorous oversight and safety," said Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy Director Zach Boyd. "Our Office facilitates innovative AI solutions while ensuring that public health and patient safety remain paramount."

The pilot is designed to complement, not replace, physicians. By handling routine, low-acuity cases, Nolla Derm frees dermatologists to focus on complex, high-risk patients – including those at risk for skin cancer – and closes the access gap without burning out the doctors already stretched thin.

Built on Safety and Clinical Evidence
Developed with the Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence, the pilot underwent multiple rounds of external review by practicing physicians, dermatologists, key stakeholders, and members of the Utah government before launch. Nolla Derm's AI has already demonstrated strong clinical performance. Licensed clinicians agree with its treatment recommendations in over 96% of real-world cases, with the remaining cases reflecting minor adjustments such as topical strength modifications, not fundamental disagreements with the prescribed treatment.

Acne is the right starting point for AI in healthcare. It is a well-understood, low-risk condition with decades of clinical evidence behind it, where AI can deliver real value responsibly. Nolla Derm's system cannot generate open-ended prescriptions or improvise treatments. It can only select between pre-approved treatment pathways using structured clinical data and objective facial scan analysis.

"People are right to worry about AI in medicine that nobody can control. This program was built to be the opposite," said Dr. Zaid Fadul, Chief Medical Advisor for Nolla Health and part of the physician team overseeing the Utah pilot. "The AI can't improvise. It can only choose from a short list of physician-approved topical treatments. The moment a patient falls outside those limits, it stops and hands them to a doctor. The real test for AI in healthcare isn't how smart it is. It's whether someone other than the company can shut it off. In Utah, the state can, and physicians can - that's the standard every AI in medicine should meet."

The Nolla Derm app has been downloaded by more than 175,000 people across 44 states. To learn more, you can download the app in the App Store or visit: https://www.nollahealth.com/skincare.

About Nolla Health:
Nolla Health is an AI-powered personal healthcare company dedicated to providing clinician access and ongoing care – regardless of income or zip code. Beginning with acne and skin health, Nolla combines proprietary AI with clinician oversight to deliver diagnosis, treatment, prescriptions, and follow-up in one seamless experience. Headquartered in New York, Nolla operates across 44 states. Learn more at https://www.nollahealth.com/.

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SOURCE Nolla Health