UnitedHealth Under Federal Criminal, Civil Medicare Fraud Investigation

UnitedHealth Group is under federal criminal and civil investigations by the Department of Justice regarding its Medicare billing practices, specifically concerning its Medicare Advantage program. The company proactively contacted federal authorities after media reports about the probe and has expressed full confidence in its compliance and business practices while cooperating fully with investigators. Reports indicate that the DOJ is examining whether UnitedHealth inflated diagnoses to secure additional payments and if doctors were pressured to submit claims that increased reimbursements. This scrutiny comes amid broader regulatory and congressional concerns about the Medicare Advantage program's costs and insurers’ practices, including allegations of restricting care and exaggerating diagnoses. UnitedHealth has also faced separate antitrust investigations related to its extensive healthcare market operations. Despite these investigations, an independent expert recently recommended in favor of UnitedHealth in a related whistleblower dispute, stating insufficient evidence to prove wrongdoing.