OBJECTIVES: To examine the mortality and rehospitalization rates among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Medicare population.  METHODS: Using Medicare data, we calculated the 30-day and 1-year mortality rates, and rehospitalization rates among patients with a primary diagnosis of COPD (International Classification of Diseases 9^th Revision Clinical Modification diagnosis codes 491.xx, 492.xx, 496.xx). Patients with continuous enrollment in fee-for-service Medicare during the calendar year and ≥2 years prior were restricted. The age- and sex-adjusted readmission rates were calculated using direct standardization for the U.S. population aged ≥65 years in 2010 using sex-specific age groups. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality rate increased by 14.10% (7.8 to 8.9 per 1000 persons) and the 1-year mortality rate increased by 21.2% (24.1 to 29.2 per 1000 persons) from 2008 to 2013. The overall adjusted readmission rate was 9.49% (2008), 9.50% (2009), 9.57% (2010), and 10.89% (2011); it then decreased to 10.41% (2012) and 9.98% (2013). Males had higher readmission rates compared to females across all study years. Patients aged 75-79 had the highest readmission rates during 2009 (9.75%), and 2011 (11.55%) whereas readmission rates were highest among patients aged 80-84 in 2008 (10.15%), patients aged 85-89 in 2012 (11.03%), and patients aged 65-69 in 2010 (9.94%) and 2013 (10.94%). Readmission rates were highest among Hispanics in 2008 (9.82%), Blacks in 2012 (10.97%), North American Natives in 2009 (13.26%) and 2010 (15.51%), and Whites in 2011 (10.94%) and 2013 (10.18%). Readmission rates varied according to state. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to 2008, Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with COPD had higher mortality rates from 2009 to 2013. Overall readmission rates were lower in 2008 compared to 2009-2013 after adjusting for age and sex. Readmission rates varied across race and age groups.