The Utah AI Preauthorization Law (SB 319), formally the Health Insurance Preauthorization Amendments, requires human oversight when health insurers use AI in preauthorization and utilization review. An AI system cannot be the final word on denying or reducing care. The law took effect May 6, 2026.
What the Utah AI Preauthorization Law Requires
A qualified human reviewer must be involved in adverse determinations. Insurers can still use AI to process and triage preauthorization requests, but the statute draws the line at letting an algorithm alone deny or reduce a patient’s care.
Why Utah Passed It
The law responds to concerns that insurers were using algorithms to batch-deny prior authorization requests without clinical review. By requiring a qualified human in the loop for every adverse determination, Utah joins the states putting guardrails around AI in coverage decisions. Health plans operating in Utah should review their utilization review workflows to confirm a human clinician signs off on denials.
Source: Utah State Legislature: SB 319
Report a violation: If you believe a business is violating this law, you can file a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection (Dept. of Commerce).
