UnitedHealthcare to Cooperate with DOJ on Probe of Medicare Billing Procedures
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.'
Story continues below advertisement
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.
Story continues below advertisement
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.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"Sunday Morning" Retirement Guide
As part of this year's "Money Issue" devoted to matters of retirement (airing on August 3), "Sunday Morning" presents this resource guide for those who are retired … and for those planning ahead. Government information IRS - Retirement Plan Information Contains information on estimating annual savings withdrawals and various retirement plans, including 401(k) and IRA contains information on how to manage retirement savings in the face of unexpected life events. Social Security Administration - Plan for retirement Contains tools to calculate estimated Social Security payments (including benefits received while you continue working).Also contains information on Spouse and Survivor Social Security benefits. Employment Benefits Security Administration (Part of Department of Labor) A comprehensive guide covering private retirement plans that are governed by Federal laws and guidelines in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue a "Saving Matters" education portal, and a Retirement Savings Lost and Found Database. Does not include information on plans run by state and local government, most churches and plans for federal employees. Retirement Toolkit (Department of Labor) PDF containing a retirement planning timeline, as well as information on Medicare and links to additional informational resources. Medicare & You 2025 The official U.S. government Medicare Handbook, containing info on the different Medicare options, how to sign up, and information on Medicare Savings information AARP Retirement Portal Contains a hub of resources, including Frequently-Asked-Questions on Social Security, as well as various tools for calculating benefits. AARP: The Magazine Stories and practical tips for those at 50 and beyond. International Living Information on living your retirement years abroad. Nerd Wallet Examines retirement savings and investments by age and demographics From CBS News Moneywatch: The 4% annuity rule for retireesGen Xers' poor retirement savings numbersHow to plan for your retirement when your spouse won'tWhy retirees should buy long-term care insuranceCan you collect Social Security if you owe back taxes?3 ways seniors can supplement their Social Security nowTrump's Social Security plan would hasten insolvency, lead to bigger benefits cuts, analysis findsLiterature Here are links to books featured on this year's "Money Issue" broadcast: "50 After 50: Reframing the Next Chapter of Your Life" by Maria Leonard Olsen (Rowman & Littlefield), in Hardcover, Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Retirement Extreme: A Philosophical and Practical Guide to Financial Independence" by Jacob Lund Fisker (CreateSpace), in Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon and Barnes & Noble"Playing with FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early): How Far Would You Go for Financial Freedom?" by Scott Rieckens (New World Library), in Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio Formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence [Revised and Updated Edition]" by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez (Penguin Books), in Trade Paperback, eBook and Audio Formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Black swimmers teach others amid history of aquatic segregation Katie Ledecky breaks her own record in women's swimming Rare Grateful Dead photographs come to life 60 years after its formation Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Switzerland could revise offer on Trump tariffs, business minister says
By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government is open to revising its offer to the United States in response to planned heavy tariffs, Business Minister Guy Parmelin said, as experts warned the 39% import duties announced by President Donald Trump could trigger a recession in Switzerland. Switzerland was left stunned on Friday after Trump hit the country with one of the highest tariffs in his global trade reset, with industry associations warning of tens of thousands of jobs being put at risk. The country's cabinet will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss its next steps, with Parmelin telling broadcaster RTS that the government would move quickly before the U.S. tariffs are imposed on August 7. "We need to fully understand what happened, why the U.S. president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed," Parmelin said. "The timeline is tight, it may be hard to achieve something by the 7th, but we'll do everything we can to show goodwill and revise our offer," he added. Parmelin said Trump was focused on the U.S. trade deficit with Switzerland, which stood at 38.5 billion Swiss francs ($48 billion) last year, with Switzerland buying U.S liquefied natural gas (LNG) among the options under consideration. Another option could be further investments by Swiss companies in the United States, Switzerland's biggest export market for its pharmaceuticals, watches and machinery. "Look at the European Union, they promised to buy LNG. Switzerland imports LNG too — maybe that's one path," Parmelin said. "Maybe more investments. But to be sure it's a strong enough basis for continuing talks, we have to fully understand what the U.S. expects." Both Parmelin and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter were also ready to travel to Washington to pursue talks if necessary, he added. Swiss officials rejected reports that the higher than expected tariffs were imposed after a bad-tempered telephone call between Keller-Sutter and Trump late on Thursday. "The call was not a success, there was not a good outcome for Switzerland," a government source told Reuters. "But there was not a quarrel. Trump made it clear from the very beginning that he had a completely different point of view, that 10% tariffs were not enough. "We are working hard to find a solution and are in contact with the American side," the source added. "We hope we can find a solution before August 7." Tariffs would have a huge impact on Switzerland's export-orientated economy and raised the risk of a recession, said Hans Gersbach, an economist at ETH, a university in Zurich. Swiss economic output would be reduced by 0.3% to 0.6% if the 39% tariff was imposed, a figure which could rise to above 0.7% if pharmaceuticals - which are currently not covered by the U.S. import duties - were included. Prolonged disruptions could shrink Swiss GDP by more 1%, Gersbach said. "There would be a risk of a recession," Gersbach said. Swiss shares are expected to be hit by the tariffs news when the stock market reopens on Monday after being closed during the Swiss National Day holiday on Friday. The tariffs could also see the Swiss National Bank cut interest rates in September, said Nomura. "We expect one more 25bp policy rate cut from the SNB in September, which would take the rate to -0.25%," the bank said. "A hit to growth from U.S. tariffs on exports would likely weaken economic growth and cause further deflation pressures, adding to the likelihood of easing to a negative policy rate." Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The S&P 500 Has Reached an All-Time High: Should You Invest Now or Wait for a Correction?
Key Points Market indexes have been reaching new heights, and right now is an incredibly expensive time to buy. Some investors are worried a correction or recession may be looming, making it smarter to wait. However, history suggests that there's never necessarily a bad time to invest. 10 stocks we like better than S&P 500 Index › The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has been breaking records over the last few weeks, officially reaching a new all-time high in July. As of this writing on Aug. 1, it's up by about 25% from its low point in April. However, not everyone is optimistic about the market right now. In fact, one-third of U.S. investors say they are feeling "bearish" about where stocks will be in the next six months, according to the most recent weekly survey from the American Association of Individual Investors. With stock prices near record-breaking highs, some investors may be tempted to wait until the next downturn to buy at a discount. Here's what history says about whether you should buy now or hold off. Is it safe to invest now? Nobody can predict where stocks will be a few months or a year from now, and new policies out of Washington could change things on a dime. However, several scenarios are possible. For one, stock prices could continue soaring like they have over the past few months. If that happens, right now would be a fantastic time to buy to see immediate gains. Scenario two is that the market takes a sharp turn for the worse, like it did earlier this year amid tariff uncertainty. Between February and April, the S&P 500 fell by close to 20%, leaving many investors panicked and eager to sell. But those who stayed the course and held their investments reaped the rewards when the market quickly rebounded. A similar situation played out in March 2020, when the S&P 500 experienced one of the fastest crashes in history at the start of the pandemic. The short term was rough, but the S&P 500 has since earned total returns of nearly 112%. The third scenario may be the one that concerns investors the most: a prolonged recession. But even if that is on the horizon, investing at record-high prices doesn't necessarily mean you'll lose money. A market downturn may result in your portfolio losing value. But if you hold your investments until the rebound without selling, you likely won't experience any actual losses. Say, for example, you invested in an S&P 500 index fund in December 2007. The market was reaching record highs at the time, but it was about to slip into the Great Recession, which would last until 2009. In that time, your investment would have plunged by more than 50%. Selling at any point during that recession could have locked in significant losses, since you would have likely been selling your investments for far less than what you paid for them. However, if you simply stayed in the market, you would have earned total returns of around 75% after 10 years and 312% by today -- more than quadrupling your money. In other words, even if you had invested at the seemingly worst possible moment -- at record-high prices immediately before one of the most severe recessions in U.S. history -- you would still have made a significant amount of money over time. Now, could you have earned more if you had waited until the market was at its lowest point to buy? Definitely. But hindsight is 20/20, and nobody knows when the next correction or bear market will begin. Timing the market accurately is next to impossible, and if your timing is even slightly off, you could potentially lose a lot of money. Rather than waiting for a chance to "buy the dip," it's often wiser to invest consistently. You can always increase the amount you invest during the next slump, when stocks are at a discount. But in the meantime, continuing to buy can ensure you're not missing out on immediate gains if stock prices stay on the rise. One major caveat to remember The key to ensuring your portfolio survives a downturn is to only invest in long-term quality stocks. Sometimes weak companies can thrive in the short term, earning exponential growth in a matter of months. But those investments are far less likely to pull through tough economic times. Healthy companies with strong business foundations have a much better chance of seeing long-term growth despite short-term hiccups. When a company has a solid competitive advantage, a competent leadership team, robust financials, and a long-term plan for the future, it's much more likely to survive even the worst recessions or bear markets. The most important thing you can do right now, then, is double-check that every stock in your portfolio deserves to be there. Once you're certain that all of your investments have healthy fundamentals, you can rest easier knowing that you're well prepared for whatever may lie ahead. Should you buy stock in S&P 500 Index right now? Before you buy stock in S&P 500 Index, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and S&P 500 Index wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $624,823!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,064,820!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,019% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 178% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Katie Brockman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The S&P 500 Has Reached an All-Time High: Should You Invest Now or Wait for a Correction? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
