LSU Shreveport Students Develop AI Prescription App
The student-led startup aims to reduce medication non-adherence following a successful win at the 2026 Pelican Cup.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Healthcare
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In March 2026, LSU Shreveport students Kurtis Alton and Jyotish Batra developed an AI application called Rx Connect to simplify medical communication. The project earned $50,000 after taking first place at the Pelican Cup competition.
Why it matters
The platform addresses significant delays caused by insurance formularies and prior authorizations that often prevent patients from receiving necessary medications. By streamlining these processes, the developers hope to mitigate the widespread issue of medication non-adherence.
Medication non-adherence leads to 125,000 deaths, 10 percent of hospitalizations, and nearly $300 billion in healthcare costs annually in the United States. Additionally, 97 million prescriptions go uncollected each year.
The players
Kurtis Alton
He is an LSU Shreveport student and co-creator of the Rx Connect artificial intelligence application.
Jyotish Batra
He is an LSU Shreveport student who built a live demonstration of the Rx Connect platform for patients and providers.
The details
Alton and Batra transitioned from a direct-to-consumer strategy to a business-to-business model focused on healthcare providers and insurance companies. Batra created a live demonstration of the platform to showcase the specific user experience for both patients and providers.
Timeline
November 2025: Alton presented his initial concept at the Pilot Pitch competition.
Spring 2026: The pair refined their business strategy at various regional competitions.
Late March 2026: The team won first place at the Pelican Cup competition.
October 26, 2026: This report is published.
Market Landscape
The project follows a pattern of regional student-led innovation being supported and accelerated by the Pelican Cup competition. This initiative mirrors broader trends where startup competitions serve as launchpads for new business-to-business models within the healthcare sector.
Patients may eventually experience faster processing times for prescriptions as providers adopt tools that automate prior authorizations. These technological improvements aim to reduce the frequency of uncollected medications and associated health complications.
The takeaway
Addressing medication non-adherence through automated communication can help lower the significant financial and health burdens on the national healthcare system. Future implementation by providers could streamline the patient experience when navigating complex insurance requirements.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by KTBS.
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