UnitedHealthcare to Cooperate with DOJ on Probe of Medicare Billing Procedures

The insurance company said it ‘is committed to maintaining the integrity of its business practices and serving as reliable stewards of American tax dollars.’

A view of UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s campus in Minnetonka, Minn. Jim Mone/AP Photo

In a report filed on Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), UnitedHealth Group Inc. has contacted the Department of Justice (DOJ) amid published reports about investigations into some of the health care giant’s dealings with Medicare.

According to the filing, the company is now complying with the DOJ in the investigation, stating that it has “full confidence” in its practices.

“The company has a long record of responsible conduct and effective compliance,” it said in the the filing. “Independent CMS audits confirm that the company’s practices are among the most accurate in the industry.”

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) audits sponsors for strict compliance with the Medicare and Medicaid rules and requirements.

United Healthcare also contends that a court-appointed special master earlier concluded that there was no evidence of wrongdoing following the 10-year DOJ civil challenge regarding parts of its Medicare Advantage business.

In addition, UnitedHealthcare has independently started its own investigation through a third party that is reviewing policies, practices, and processes used by the company in regard to its Medicare practices.

“The Company is committed to maintaining the integrity of its business practices and serving as reliable stewards of American tax dollars,” the SEC filing states.

Just two months ago, former UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty stepped down from his position for personal reasons, according to a company statement. Stephen J. Hemsley assumed the top position in May. Hemsley joined UnitedHealth Group as chief operating officer in 1997 and became president in 1999. He became board chair in 2017.

Witty had taken over the reins of the company’s leadership following the death of former CEO Brian Thompson, who was fatally shot outside a hotel in Manhattan in December 2024.

Earlier this month, United Healthcare responded to published reports on the company’s dealings with the Medicare system. In a statement, the firm defended the integrity of its Medicare Advantage program.

“We have long advocated for audits across all Medicare Advantage plans each year to give all stakeholders confidence in plan reimbursements and to dispel false narratives about overpayments,” it stated. “Ultimately, we remain focused on what matters most: delivering better outcomes, more benefits, and lower costs for the people we serve.”