Overview

• A Guardian investigation revealed UnitedHealth allegedly paid nursing homes bonuses to reduce hospital transfers, raising concerns about patient safety.
• The U.S. Department of Justice previously investigated these claims and declined to pursue them, citing significant factual inaccuracies in the allegations.
• UnitedHealth's stock has dropped over 6% following the report, contributing to a nearly 40% decline year-to-date and a $140 billion market cap loss since April.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced plans to expand annual audits of Medicare Advantage contracts, increasing regulatory pressure on the insurer.
• Stephen Hemsley has returned as CEO to navigate the company through ongoing legal, financial, and reputational challenges after Andrew Witty's abrupt resignation.