Yes that is different...

I have never done it, but if I had to change doctors because of moving out of state I would try to set up my "interview" appointments with the potential new doctors a month or 2 before the move (of course this depends on how far away the move will be).

If I was unable to do that, then I would set up interview appointments that would take place within a week or 2 of my move. I would then talk to my current doctor - let them know about the move, let them know that I have set-up interview appointments with potential new doctors, and ask my current doctor if he/she would be willing to continue to prescribe my current medications for at least 2 months AFTER moving so that I had time to find a good new doctor (basically a back-up plan).

I would also look into my insurance company to see if they offered the 3 month supply of mail order meds that many prescrition insurance carriers now offer. If that option was available, I would set it up with my current doctor to get that 3 months mail-order supply right before I moved so that I would have that safety net of a 90 days supply of meds instead of just a 30 day supply.

When I got to the new state, I would try to find local support groups for medical conditions that are at least similar to my own medical problem (since I need pain meds for my medical stuff, if I could not find a group for my medical problem I would look for groups that are for other painful medical problems).

I would do this to be able to meet local people and get recommendations for a local doctor. I would also contact the local hospitals and local walk-in clinics and ask for their recommendations for area pain management and primary care doctors.

Finally, (and again, this depends on how far away I was moving) I would try to set aside some money in my budget to plan to return to my home state and my home state doctor 3 months after moving -- just in case I could not find a new doctor yet in my new state.

Especially with scheduled medications, a doctor who prescribes them usually insists on seeing the patient at least once every 3 months -- so "in case of emergency" I would plan to have to travel back to my home state and home doctor after 3 months so that I had a plan in place to ensure that I could get another 3 months supply of my current medications in case I was unable to find a good doctor within the first 3 months (or in case the good doctor I found was unable to schedule an appointment for me within 3 months - because good pain management doctors often have waiting lists). Before I moved, I would talk about this plan with my current doctor to make sure that he/she would be willing to prescribe an additional 3 months if I was unable to find a new doctor and I traveled back "home" for an appointment.


My entire life I have always lived within 3 hours of where I am now, so I am not totally familiar with moving long distances - also I have not moved at all since I became a chronic pain patient.... so my advice/suggestions may be totally off-base... but those are the types of things I would try to do if I were faced with moving.

I hope that helps - and I hope the move goes well and you are able to find a GOOD new doctor quickly and easily.

Let me know if I can help with any other brainstorming

Liz