DOJ: UnitedHealth purloined Medicare overpayments

The U.S. Justice Department has accused UnitedHealth Group of pocketing inflated Medicare payments.

The complaint filed by the feds alleges the big insurer provided the government with inaccurate information about patients enrolled in its largest Medicare Advantage plan.

The DOJ says UnitedHealth knowingly disregarded information about beneficiaries' medical conditions.

The lawsuit contends UnitedHealth ignored information about invalid diagnoses and thus avoided reimbursing Medicare for overpayments.

"Medicare Advantage plans not only receive taxpayer-funded payments, but are intended for the health and welfare of the beneficiaries," acting U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Brown for the Central District of California said in a press release. "This action sends a warning that our office will continue to scrutinize and hold accountable Medicare Advantage insurers to safeguard the integrity of the Medicare program."

UnitedHealth rejects the feds' claims, saying the company is confident it complied with program rules and was transparent in how "murky policies" were interpreted.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department joined a whistleblower lawsuit filed by a former UnitedHealth executive.

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