The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into the UnitedHealth Group for possible fraud related to its Medicare Advantage (MA) practices, according to an article published by the Wall Street Journal on May 14. 
 
The Wall Street Journal noted that it had spoken with anonymous sources "familiar with the situation,” though the criminal allegations behind the investigation are unclear. 
 
“We have not been notified by the Department of Justice of the supposed criminal investigation reported, without official attribution, in the Wall Street Journal today,” a spokesperson for the UnitedHealth Group noted in a statement released May 14. 
 
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that the DOJ was launching a civil investigation into UnitedHealth related to its Medicare billing practices. 
 
Wall Street Journal subscribers can access the article at www.wsj.com/us-news/unitedhealth-medicare-fraud-investigation-df80667f