Data from University of Michigan Advance Knowledge in Managed Care (Travel Distance, Urbanicity, and Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation in Medicare Beneficiaries): Managed Care

2026 JAN 12 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Current study results on Managed Care have been published. According to news reporting from Ann Arbor, Michigan, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a key intervention for patients recovering from major cardiovascular procedures, but access may be limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between travel distance to the nearest CR facility, degree of urbanicity, and CR participation.”

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of Michigan, “A retrospective cohort study was conducted on a sample of 100% Medicare fee-for-service claims for beneficiaries with a recent cardiovascular procedure between July 2016 and December 2018. Travel distance between the beneficiary and nearest CR facility was estimated using estimated travel distance between zip codes using Google Maps and categorized as being within the same zip code, 1-15 miles, 16-30 miles, and 30+ miles. Urbanicity was classified as urban, suburban, small town, and rural using U.S. Census data. Multivariable logistic regression compared CR enrollment (attending at least one session) and completion rates (attending 36 sessions or more) across distance and urbanicity categories. Of the 501,049 beneficiaries in the sample, 76% of urban beneficiaries lived within 15 miles of the nearest CR facility (80,182/84,345), and 63% of rural beneficiaries 15 miles away or more (70,892/112,697). CR enrollment was highest among beneficiaries living within the same zip code as a CR facility (45.6%, 53,935/118,642) and lowest among those living 30 or more miles from the nearest CR facility (19.5%, 7,462/38,309), with an adjusted difference of -22.6 (95% CI: -23.1 to -22.0; P< 0.001). In rural areas, the effect of travel distance on CR enrollment and completion was significantly greater when compared with individuals in urban areas.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Increased travel distance was associated with lower overall CR participation, with the effect varying by local degree of urbanicity.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Travel Distance, Urbanicity, and Cardiac Rehabilitation Participation in Medicare Beneficiaries. JACC Advances, 2025;5(2):102497.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Jie Yang, Dept. of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Additional authors for this research include Usman Khan, Tyler M. Bauer, Maximilian A. Fliegner, Devraj Sukul, Steven J. Keteyian, Robert B. Hawkins, Donald S. Likosky and Michael P. Thompson.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)