Changing obstetric providers halfway through a pregnancy is common and often necessary. At the 20-week mark, shifting care is generally feasible and accepted by medical practices, as this places you in the second trimester. This transition should be pursued if your current provider does not align with your health needs or birth philosophy. Confidence in your care team is essential for a healthy pregnancy and delivery experience.
Switching Providers Mid-Pregnancy: Is 20 Weeks Too Late?
The halfway point of pregnancy is a manageable time to transition care, as it falls after the initial diagnostic and screening period but before the more frequent appointments of the third trimester. Most obstetric practices accept transfer patients at 20 weeks, though some may accept patients much later. Transferring earlier allows more time to establish rapport with the new team.
The 20-week milestone often coincides with the comprehensive fetal anatomy scan. If this detailed ultrasound has been performed, the results must be transferred to provide a baseline for the new provider. Continuity of care relies on the full transfer of your prenatal history, including first-trimester lab work, genetic screening results, and risk assessments.
The lower frequency of visits in the second trimester makes the switch less disruptive than in the final weeks when visits become weekly. A new provider will schedule a comprehensive initial visit to review your file and assess your risk profile. This thorough review helps eliminate the need to repeat most initial tests, allowing you to quickly settle into the new routine schedule.
The Step-by-Step Process for Transferring Care
The first step is researching and selecting a new obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) or practice that meets your specific needs. Look for providers affiliated with the hospital where you wish to deliver, as this is a logistical requirement for birth. Reading reviews and confirming their philosophy on birth interventions, such as induction rates or support for doulas, helps ensure a better match.
Once you identify a potential provider, contact their office and state that you are a 20-week transfer patient. Confirm they are accepting transfers at this gestational age, as some offices cap their intake. Inquire about scheduling an initial intake appointment, which may depend on the receipt of your medical records.
Next, request the transfer of your medical records from your current OBGYN’s office. You must sign a medical release form to authorize the transfer of your protected health information (PHI). Make this request as soon as your new provider confirms acceptance, as compiling and sending a complete prenatal chart can take several weeks.
Finally, notify your current provider that you are canceling all future appointments. Confirm that your chart will be sent to the new office. You should also ask for a personal copy of your records to carry to your first new patient visit, which helps mitigate potential delays in the electronic transfer.
Critical Medical and Financial Considerations
Verifying your insurance coverage is the first step to prevent unexpected out-of-pocket costs. You must confirm that the new OBGYN is in-network with your health insurance plan. Separately, verify the in-network status of the affiliated hospital or birthing facility, as an out-of-network hospital could significantly increase the cost of delivery.
Switching providers mid-year affects your financial responsibility. Determine if payments made to your former provider count toward your current deductible or out-of-pocket maximum. The previous practice bills your insurance for services rendered up to the transfer date. Your new provider then bills for the remaining care, often using a modified “global package” code or separate billing for visits and delivery.
The complete and timely transfer of your prenatal record is essential for a safe medical transition. The new provider must receive documentation of all past ultrasounds, blood work, and identified risk factors, such as gestational diabetes screening results. If the 20-week anatomy scan has not yet occurred, schedule this appointment immediately with the new practice for a comprehensive fetal assessment.
Confirm your new OBGYN’s hospital privileges to ensure they are authorized to perform deliveries and manage complications at your desired location. Clarifying the specific delivery location is important for birth planning, especially if the practice is affiliated with multiple hospitals.