Medicare Reimbursement
August 19, 2025Our Position To ensure continued access to vital physician and surgical services for Medicare patients, Congress must create a fair, long-term, and sustainable solution for Medicare physician payment rates. Lawmakers must take action to improve the physician payment system by providing an inflationary…
Academy Bylaws
August 19, 2025AAO-HNS Bylaw Articles As amended by vote of the AAO-HNS Membership on June 12, 2025. Section 1.01. Registered Office The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Academy”) shall have and continuously maintain in…
Easing Student Loan Burden on Medical Residents - REDI Act
August 15, 2025Our Position The Academy remains concerned about the amount of debt medical students and residents accrue during their training and how these students’ career decisions may be influenced by the total accumulation of debt, rather than their interests. Therefore, the AAO-HNS supports the…
Stop CMV Act
August 15, 2025Our Position The Academy is working in partnership with other medical societies and lawmakers to introduce the Stop CMV Act to the 119th Congress, which would authorize federal funding for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) screening programs that improve early detection and intervention of hearing loss…
Renting Space
August 15, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's headquarters is conveniently located in Old Town Alexandria. The facility offers a spacious auditorium and flexible conference room space with state of the art audio-visual capabilities to suit your meeting and event needs…
Prior Authorization
August 14, 2025Our Position Congress must take action to reform existing administrative hurdles that limit access to prompt patient care by passing the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025 (H.R.2433) and the Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2025 (H…
Quality Products
August 13, 2025Evidence-based products developed by otolaryngologists for otolaryngologists are needed for our specialty to meet the demands of payers, accrediting bodies, and maintenance of certification and licensure programs, so that you can succeed in the changing healthcare marketplace. Otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons must…
Position Statement: Plastic Surgery
August 13, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery recognizes that facial plastic surgery is an integral part of the specialty and is a fundamental area of expertise for otolaryngologistshead and neck surgeons. An otolaryngology resident spends a minimum of four years training exclusively…
Position Statement: Treatment for Microtia and Anotia
August 13, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery ("AAO-HNS") recognizes microtia and anotia as congential birth defects. These conditions are associated with appreciable psychological and functional ramifications if left untreated. Reconstructive surgery is appropriate as a primary treatment in both children and adults…
Position Statement: Patient Physician Covenant
August 12, 2025(Modified from the Journal of the American Medical Association, May 17, 1995) Medicine is, at its center, a moral enterprise grounded in a covenant of trust. This covenant obliges physicians to be competent and to use their competence in the patient's best interests…
Position Statement: Utilization Review
August 12, 2025Utilization review companies must be registered in the state in which the review will be done. Guidelines used for making reviews should be available to those physicians. Individuals conducting reviews should be board certified in those specialties they are reviewing, and practice within the same…
Position Statement: Use of the Term "Doctor" in Advertising and Patient Communications
August 12, 2025With the emergence of the clinical doctorate degree in allied healthcare fields including nursing, audiology, and speech-language pathology, allied healthcare providers who have achieved their doctorate degrees are increasingly using the title of Doctor in their practice settings, advertisements, and other patient communications.Since…
Position Statement: Scope of Practice of Non-Physician Providers
August 12, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery supports physician-directed collaborative and coordinated team care. However, all members of the healthcare team (Doctors of Medicine, Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, and non-physicians) should clearly identify their training and/or credentials to avoid any…
Position Statement: Second Surgical Opinions
August 12, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recognizes that the advisability of surgery or other specific therapy can be a matter of opinion. It reaffirms the traditional right of the patient's freedom of choice. It opposes the concept of mandatory second…
Position Statement: Use of Topical Antibiotic Drops
August 12, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recognizes the appropriateness of utilizing currently available topical preparations, including those containing aminoglycosides, in the treatment of diseases of the external auditory canal. Aminoglycoside drops can be used as culture directed secondary therapy for middle ear…
Position Statement: Physician Drug Dispensing
August 12, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head And Neck Surgery shall work to preserve the historic and traditional physician's privilege of dispensing medications and medical devices when this policy is in the best interest of the patient. Adopted 9/22/1987 Submitted for Review 4…
Position Statement: Medical Use of Cocaine
August 12, 2025The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery considers cocaine to be a valuable anesthetic and vasoconstricting agent when used as part of the treatment of a patient by a physician. No other single drug combines the anesthetic and vasoconstricting properties of cocaine. Adopted…
Position Statement: Dilation of sinuses, any method (e.g., balloon, etc.)
August 12, 2025Sinus ostial dilation is a therapeutic option for selected patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS) who have failed appropriate medical therapy. Clinical diagnosis of CRS and RARS should be based on symptoms of sinusitis and supported by nasal endoscopy documenting sinonasal…