Research brief
Only 3.7% of Medicare patients with COPD used pulmonary rehab in 2012, an increase of 1.1% since 2003, according to a study published in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention.1
Researchers point out that pulmonary rehab became an allowable benefit under Medicare in 2010, but cited a lack of evaluation by pulmonologists, and low referral rates by primary care physicians as causes for low utilization.
“Several factors need to be addressed in order to increase PR participation. Less than 25% of COPD patients are evaluated by a pulmonary physician, who comprise the majority of PR referrals. Primary care physicians diagnose and manage the majority of patients with COPD. However, a recent survey showed that, although 32% had PR available, only 3% of PCPs thought PR was beneficial for patients and were less likely to refer patients to PR,” the researchers wrote.1
Read the study at www.journals.lww.com
- Nishi SP, Zhang W, Kuo YF, Sharma G. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Utilization in Older Adults With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 2003 to 2012. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2016 Sep-Oct;36(5):375-82. doi: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000194. PMID: 27428819; PMCID: PMC5001907.
