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

Important Disclaimer Notice

Position statements are approved by the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. or Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Boards of Directors and are typically generated from AAO-HNS/F committees. Once approved by the Academy or Foundation Board of Directors, they become official position statements and are added to the existing position statement library. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of position statements, as guidance for a procedure, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these clinical position statements will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. As with all AAO-HNS/F guidance, this position statement 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.