Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Feds Paid Too Much For Nearly Half Of UnitedHealth's Medicare Advantage Patients, Audit Says
Center For Public Integrity: Audit: Feds Overpaid For Half Of Patients In UnitedHealth Medicare Advantage Plan
Federal officials have spent years locked in a secret legal battle with UnitedHealth Group, the nation's biggest Medicare Advantage insurer, after a government audit detected widespread overbilling at one of the company's health plans, newly released records show. The audit found that Medicare paid too much for nearly half of a sample of patients enrolled at PacifiCare of Washington state, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. (Schulte, 6/17)
Bloomberg Business: Senator Menendez Loses Bid To Move Trial Out Of New Jersey
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez’s bribery case will remain in his home state of New Jersey, a judge ruled in an early setback for the indicted lawmaker. The Democrat was charged April 1 with illegally taking almost $1 million in campaign donations, luxury travel and other gifts from Salomon Melgen, a Florida eye doctor. Melgen, who was indicted with Menendez, joined him in asking U.S. District Judge William Walls in Newark to transfer the case to Washington. (Voreacos, 6/16)
