UnitedHealth Under Investigation for Unethical Medicare Billing

UnitedHealth Group is under federal scrutiny following allegations of unethical coding practices related to its Medicare Advantage (MA) program. The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting both civil and criminal investigations into whether the healthcare giant manipulated diagnosis data to secure inflated reimbursements. UnitedHealth, which serves over 8 million MA recipients, disclosed its cooperation in an SEC filing, noting it reached out to the DOJ after media reports surfaced. This comes amid broader industry concerns and heightened pressure on MA providers. The company’s leadership previously acknowledged systemic flaws, with CEO Andrew Witty calling the healthcare system “a patchwork built over decades.” Stock performance has declined since December, compounded by the tragic shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. As scrutiny over Medicare billing intensifies, UnitedHealth’s operations—including its insurance, pharmacy benefits, and Optum divisions—remain under a spotlight, raising questions about transparency and oversight in America’s privatized elder care system.

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Source: BET