Marci McCarthy Chairman | DeKalb County Republican Party
Marci McCarthy Chairman | DeKalb County Republican Party
The Justice Department, led by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, is reportedly investigating Medicare billing practices at UnitedHealth Group. This investigation follows the recent assassination of Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group.
According to an exclusive report from The Wall Street Journal, attorneys are examining potential civil fraud related to how UnitedHealth Group records diagnoses that lead to additional payments for Medicare Advantage plans. The investigation includes potential fraud at physician groups owned by the company. Under the Medicare Advantage system, insurers receive increased payments when certain diagnoses are identified, creating an incentive to diagnose more ailments for higher payouts.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Medicare paid UnitedHealth Group billions for "questionable diagnoses." Justice Department attorneys have interviewed some medical providers mentioned in these reports.
In addition to this civil fraud investigation, the Justice Department is conducting an antitrust probe against UnitedHealth Group and has filed to block its $3.3 billion acquisition of home healthcare company Amedisys. The civil fraud investigation is separate from these cases.
UnitedHealth Group responded with a statement accusing The Wall Street Journal of reporting "misinformation." They stated: "The government regularly reviews all MA plans to ensure compliance and we consistently perform at the industry’s highest levels on those reviews." They added that they were unaware of any new activity as reported by the Journal and criticized the outlet's reporting as defending a legacy system rewarding volume over patient health.
Despite this, The Wall Street Journal stood by its reporting.
This investigation comes after Brian Thompson was assassinated in New York City. Luigi Mangione, suspected of being responsible for the assassination, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangione is described as a 26-year-old Ivy League graduate and son of a wealthy Maryland family who has gained attention from the anti-capitalist left. He wrote a manifesto reflecting Ted Kaczynski's ideology.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
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