Representatives Ocasio-Cortez and Doggett Urge DOJ To Investigate New Allegations That UnitedHealth is Endangering Patients to Maximize Profits from Medicare Advantage Program

Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi urging the Department of Justice to expand its reported investigation into UnitedHealth Group to include reports that the company is engaging in fraud through the Medicare Advantage program. Investigative reporting from The Guardian accuses the healthcare conglomerate of trying to deliberately reduce access to care for nursing home residents in order to pocket more money from the federal government.

“The potential harm of UnitedHealth’s business practices extends far beyond waste of taxpayer dollars and appears to be endangering enrollees and harming health outcomes. We strongly urge you to expand your ongoing investigations to include the allegations outlined in The Guardian and other appropriate lines of inquiry concerning the impact of UnitedHealth’s business practices on patients,” wrote the lawmakers.

The full letter is available here.

Last month, it was reported that the Department of Justice opened up a criminal investigation into UnitedHealth Group for possible Medicare fraud. The lawmakers request Attorney General Bondi expand the DOJ’s current investigation to include new allegations that UnitedHealth Group has engaged in the following business practices regarding the Medicare Advantage Program:

• Paying nursing homes to delay or deny patients hospitalizations to increase profits.
• Pressuring patients to establish do-not-resuscitate orders, which instruct providers to not perform CPR for patients who have stopped breathing.
• Providing financial incentives for enrolling residents in UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage long-term care plans.

Last month, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and Raul Ruiz (CA-25) introduced an amendment to the Republicans’ reconciliation bill to crack down on corporate profiteering in the Medicare Advantage program and strengthen traditional Medicare. Separately, Representative Doggett led House Members in urging Republican leadership to pass legislation to rein in rampant taxpayer overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans. 

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