The investigation covers fraudulent diagnoses, physician coercion, above-market self-payments, and biased studies, together painting a portrait of a company that has turned Medicare into a revenue engine. For skilled nursing facilities, the series reveals how UnitedHealth’s MA strategy depends on controlling the care continuum – including post-acute referrals – through owned physician practices that face financial pressure to limit utilization.
Part 1: How UnitedHealth harnesses its physician empire to squeeze profits out of patients
Herman, Bob, et al. “How UnitedHealth Harnesses Its Physician Empire to Squeeze Profits Out of Patients.” STAT, 16 Oct. 2024, www.statnews.com/2024/07/25/united-health-group-medicare-advantage-strategy-doctor-clinic-acquisitions.
Part 2: How UnitedHealth turned a questionable artery-screening program into a gold mine
Ross, Casey, et al. “How UnitedHealth Turned a Questionable Artery-screening Program Into a Gold Mine.” STAT, 16 Oct. 2024, www.statnews.com/2024/08/07/unitedhealth-peripheral-artery-disease-screening-program-medicare-advantage-gold-mine.
Part 3: UnitedHealth pledged a hands-off approach after buying a Connecticut medical group. Then it upended how doctors practice
Lawrence, Lizzy, et al. “UnitedHealth Pledged a Hands-off Approach After Buying a Connecticut Medical Group. Then It Upended How Doctors Practice.” STAT, 16 Oct. 2024, www.statnews.com/2024/08/28/unitedhealth-optum-prohealth-physicians-care-squeezed-for-profit-doctors-say.
Part 4: Inside UnitedHealth’s strategy to pressure physicians: $10,000 bonuses and a doctor leaderboard
Bannow, Tara, et al. “Inside UnitedHealth’s Strategy to Pressure Physicians: $10,000 Bonuses and a Doctor Leaderboard.” STAT, 16 Oct. 2024, www.statnews.com/2024/10/16/united-health-optum-care-medicare-advantage-strategy-dashboard-emails-documents.
Part 5: UnitedHealth pays its own physician groups considerably more than others, driving up consumer costs and its profits
Herman, Bob, et al. “UnitedHealth Pays Its Own Physician Groups Considerably More Than Others, Driving up Consumer Costs and Its Profits.” STAT, 25 Nov. 2024, www.statnews.com/2024/11/25/unitedhealth-higher-payments-optum-providers-converts-expenses-to-profits.
Part 6: Lawmakers call for curbs on UnitedHealth’s growing empire
Ross, Casey, et al. “Lawmakers Call for Curbs on UnitedHealth’s Growing Empire.” STAT, 7 Jan. 2025, www.statnews.com/2024/12/23/unitedhealth-group-lawmakers-consider-antitrust-breakup-health-care-giant.
Part 7: Under siege after a tragedy, UnitedHealth grapples with fresh security threats and a customer backlash
Bannow, Tara, et al. “Under Siege After a Tragedy, UnitedHealth Grapples With Fresh Security Threats and a Customer Backlash.” STAT, 6 Mar. 2025, www.statnews.com/2025/2/25/unitedhealth-facing-security-threats-customer-backlash-starts-pushing-back-on-critics.
Part 8: Inside the research machine that helps UnitedHealth protect its Medicare profits
Ross, Casey, et al. “Inside the Research Machine That Helps UnitedHealth Protect Its Medicare Profits.” STAT, 11 Aug. 2025, www.statnews.com/2025/08/11/unitedhealth-medicare-advantage-studies-questioned.
Source: STAT. “Health Care’s Colossus: Investigative Series on UnitedHealth Group.” STAT, 11 Aug. 2025, www.statnews.com/unitedhealth-group-investigation-health-care-colossus-series.
(Note: links have a paywall)
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