Choice of Physicians

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. strongly supports, as being in the public interest, the establishment of any reimbursement plans by third-party payers that promote the patient's freedom of choice of physicians among those licensed physicians qualified in a specialty by their respective professional certifying boards.

Adopted 7/10/82
Reviewed 9/16/95
Revised 9/16/95
Reaffirmed 3/1/98
Reaffirmed 1/15/2007

Guidelines are not a substitute for the experience and judgment of a physician and are developed to enhance the physicians' ability to practice evidence-based medicine.

Important Notice

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. and Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Policy Statements are guidelines only. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of an indicator for a procedure, and/or of the process or outcome criteria, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these guidelines will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. The AAO-HNS emphasizes that these policies should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results.