Jessica Mendoza

Documents show that these suggestions would appear in a so-called diagnosis cart on the side of the screen, and the suggestions would show up even if the patient didn't feel any symptoms. UnitedHealth told us that the final diagnosis was left up to the nurse practitioner and that the company is confident that its clinicians act in good faith.

Kristen also started getting the message from a manager that she should do more testing on her patients.

Kristen also started getting the message from a manager that she should do more testing on her patients.

Kristen also started getting the message from a manager that she should do more testing on her patients.

After working at the House Calls program for about a year, Kristen told us that she eventually began doing the tests she was asked to do. And after that, she got a raise.

After working at the House Calls program for about a year, Kristen told us that she eventually began doing the tests she was asked to do. And after that, she got a raise.

After working at the House Calls program for about a year, Kristen told us that she eventually began doing the tests she was asked to do. And after that, she got a raise.

UnitedHealth told us that their nurse practitioners are not, quote, Chris looked at a three-year period where Medicare Advantage insurers sent out nurse practitioners like Kristen to run tests and add diagnoses to patient records, including diagnoses of the kinds of conditions that trigger those extra payments. The extra payments added up to about $15 billion during that time.

UnitedHealth told us that their nurse practitioners are not, quote, Chris looked at a three-year period where Medicare Advantage insurers sent out nurse practitioners like Kristen to run tests and add diagnoses to patient records, including diagnoses of the kinds of conditions that trigger those extra payments. The extra payments added up to about $15 billion during that time.

UnitedHealth told us that their nurse practitioners are not, quote, Chris looked at a three-year period where Medicare Advantage insurers sent out nurse practitioners like Kristen to run tests and add diagnoses to patient records, including diagnoses of the kinds of conditions that trigger those extra payments. The extra payments added up to about $15 billion during that time.

And some of those diagnoses weren't even real. That's next. Chris and Ana found that diagnoses weren't just showing up on Medicare Advantage patient records after home visits. They were also on records after patients went to see doctors or hospitals. The team found that over a three-year period, all of these additional diagnoses added up to $50 billion in federal payments to the insurers.

And some of those diagnoses weren't even real. That's next. Chris and Ana found that diagnoses weren't just showing up on Medicare Advantage patient records after home visits. They were also on records after patients went to see doctors or hospitals. The team found that over a three-year period, all of these additional diagnoses added up to $50 billion in federal payments to the insurers.

And some of those diagnoses weren't even real. That's next. Chris and Ana found that diagnoses weren't just showing up on Medicare Advantage patient records after home visits. They were also on records after patients went to see doctors or hospitals. The team found that over a three-year period, all of these additional diagnoses added up to $50 billion in federal payments to the insurers.

The biggest Medicare Advantage provider, UnitedHealth, told us that the added payments help cover medical care and lower premiums and provide other benefits for members. It also says that chart reviews reflect diagnoses made by patients' doctors. According to the journal's reporting, some of the diagnoses that insurers added to patient records were demonstrably false.

The biggest Medicare Advantage provider, UnitedHealth, told us that the added payments help cover medical care and lower premiums and provide other benefits for members. It also says that chart reviews reflect diagnoses made by patients' doctors. According to the journal's reporting, some of the diagnoses that insurers added to patient records were demonstrably false.

The biggest Medicare Advantage provider, UnitedHealth, told us that the added payments help cover medical care and lower premiums and provide other benefits for members. It also says that chart reviews reflect diagnoses made by patients' doctors. According to the journal's reporting, some of the diagnoses that insurers added to patient records were demonstrably false.

One condition that they looked into was diabetic cataracts. Cataracts, which is when eyes cloud over, are common in the elderly. So is diabetes. But there's another, rarer condition called diabetic cataracts, which is when high blood sugar levels cause that cloudy vision. And a diagnosis of diabetic cataracts was tied to thousands of dollars in extra payments, whereas regular cataracts weren't.

One condition that they looked into was diabetic cataracts. Cataracts, which is when eyes cloud over, are common in the elderly. So is diabetes. But there's another, rarer condition called diabetic cataracts, which is when high blood sugar levels cause that cloudy vision. And a diagnosis of diabetic cataracts was tied to thousands of dollars in extra payments, whereas regular cataracts weren't.

One condition that they looked into was diabetic cataracts. Cataracts, which is when eyes cloud over, are common in the elderly. So is diabetes. But there's another, rarer condition called diabetic cataracts, which is when high blood sugar levels cause that cloudy vision. And a diagnosis of diabetic cataracts was tied to thousands of dollars in extra payments, whereas regular cataracts weren't.

According to the data seen by the journal team, UnitedHealth Medicare Advantage members were about 15 times as likely to have a diagnosis of diabetic cataracts compared to the average patient in traditional Medicare. It was this unusual condition that Kristen, the nurse practitioner with House Calls, says she was encouraged to put down on patient charts.