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Rural Residence and Postsurgical Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries

JAMA Network Open 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.26959

August 06, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT

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In this cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries undergoing common general surgery procedures, rural residence was independently associated with worse clinical outcomes across most measures. These findings identify significant opportunities for quality improvement focused on common rural surgical needs.

Corresponding Author: Cody Lendon Mullens, MD, MPH, MS, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, 2110 Taubman Center, SPC 5346, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (codymu@med.umich.edu).

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