UnitedHealth Group last week defeated a U.S. Justice Department lawsuit accusing the insurer of fraudulently collecting millions of dollars for its Medicare Advantage plans.
The federal government alleged UnitedHealth inflated its plan members’ risk scores to secure millions in higher payments from the CMS, but a federal judge in California called the Justice Department’s claims too vague. It’s an early blow against the Justice Department’s newest attempt to crack down on potential fraud in Medicare Advantage plans. If the feds can beef up their claims, the case can be resubmitted.