When a patient transfers care to another PCP office, once the medical records are transferred to the new office is there a time frame that the old provider still needs to see the patient? We have had two situations that I have tried to find written documentation and can not.

1. Patient is discharged from practice A (practice A gives 30 day emergency care) and practice B receives the medical records, when does practice B’s legal obligation to see the patient begin?
2. Patient transfers from practice A to practice B on their own accord, the records are transferred to practice B. When does practice B’s legal obligation to see the patient begin?

We have offices requesting that we see the patients until they are seen there (no matter the time length) because they are "reviewing the records" before they accept the person as a patient.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Dawne Townsend, CPC, MA