We are a psychiatry practice, and many of our patients are prescribed controlled substances that can only be issued in 90-day intervals. To remain compliant, patients must be seen at least once every 90 days.

Currently, the portal allows patients to view and book appointments up to three months from the date they are scheduling. If a patient books close to their due date, this can result in an appointment that falls well beyond 90 days from their last visit, placing both the patient and the practice out of compliance.

Despite multiple reminders and a signed scheduling policy, patients frequently forget to schedule follow-up visits promptly and instead choose the first available appointment that fits their schedule, even if it is past the required timeframe. This also negatively impacts availability for patients who schedule on time.

It would be extremely helpful to have a setting that limits patient-visible appointment availability to no more than 90 days from the patient’s most recent visit, rather than from the date of booking.