UnitedHealth stock plunges on report of DoJ Medicare Advantage probe

[Northeast Agent]

https://www.thestreet.com/investing/unitedhealth-stock-plunges-on-report-of-doj-medicare-advantage-probe

The Wall Street Journal said the investigation would center on UnitedHealth's (UNH) diagnosis recordings that trigger extra Medicare Advantage (MA) payments but aren't followed up with actual patient care.

"The Wall Street Journal continues to report misinformation on the Medicare Advantage program," UnitedHealth said in a statement. "The government regularly reviews all MA plans to ensure compliance and we consistently perform at the industry's highest levels on those reviews.'

"We are not aware of the "launch" of any "new" activity as reported by the Journal," the statement added. "We are aware, however, that the Journal has engaged in a year-long campaign to defend a legacy system that rewards volume over keeping patients healthy and addressing their underlying conditions. Any suggestion that our practices are fraudulent is outrageous and false."

 

[annon123]

Well considering that UHC "owns" (eg employed by UHC owned health care systems) about 10% of the nation's physicians (and who knows what percent of NP's and PA's) that kind of upcoding is certainly in their best interests, the same way it is for any other medical system - insurance company owned or not.