When my patients are running out of meds, it is time that they have an appointment with me. I don't provide more than a 30 day supply when patients "run out of meds". No narcotics. After doing this for years, they kind of have the whole idea now. That is, if they are running out of their prescription meds, it means that they should have set up the appointment they were supposed to have. Others may have a different type of patient but for me, it has been a real fight with patients gaming me for prescription meds without ever being seen. The behavior may in fact be due to this being a rural shortage area and I was the first doc to stay more than a couple years. Initially there were patients who hadn't been in in years who would just call and routinely order any med they wanted to just be called or faxed in. We are not going back to those days. If they didn't need to see a physician, why do they need a prescription? Some physicians may book the next appt when the patient leaves the current one but when we book an appt further than a month away, it is a no show.
