LisaMarie, docs will often make a personal call to ask for an exception. It always works.

I had a great PCP in Arizona who was closing her office. I was beyond terrified. At that time my rheumy was awful and had nearly killed me several times. There wasn't another rheumy in all of northern AZ, and my PCP was a lifeline for me. The PCP my doc wanted me to see was quite popular and wasn't taking new patients. My doc called her and she made an exception for me.