What happens to open prescriptions or referrals when a medical practice is sold?

Open prescriptions and pending referrals don't automatically become the new owner's responsibility just because the practice has changed hands, and this is exactly the kind of detail that can fall through the cracks during a busy transition if it isn't planned for. A prescription issued by the departing physician remains valid on its own terms, but ongoing prescribing relationships and monitoring (for example, for medications requiring regular follow-up) generally need to be picked up by whichever physician is now treating that patient, which depends on whether the patient has agreed to transfer their care to the incoming physician at all.

Referrals already sent out, or expected to come back, need a similar handoff plan: someone has to be responsible for reviewing results and following up, and that responsibility shouldn't be left ambiguous during the changeover. A well-run transition typically includes a clear cutover process, sometimes with a short overlap period, so no patient's active prescription or referral loop is simply dropped.

Building this into the practice transition plan alongside the purchase agreement, rather than assuming it sorts itself out administratively, is what actually protects patients and reduces liability exposure for both the departing and incoming physician.