Does your OB require anesthesiologist appointment?

After 28 weeks, my OB requires you to make an appointment at the hospital to meet with the anesthesiologist before you go into labor, and if you do not, they will refuse you an epidural. It’s been 7 years since my last birth but I thought that was kinda strange. Especially considering all you do is sit down and watch a 20 minute video on pain medication for labor, never even meeting the anesthesiologist. Has anyone else had to do this? Is that just the norm these days?