UnitedHealth Group has boosted lobbying efforts and executives have met with several Trump administration officials this year amid ongoing federal investigations and reimbursement changes that have negatively impacted profits, The Wall Street Journal reported Sept. 14.
Since May, UnitedHealth leadership, including CEO Stephen Hemsley, have met with officials at the Department of Justice, the White House and CMS. The topics of those meetings included the ongoing federal probes into the company, along with Medicare billing and supplemental benefits policies. UnitedHealth has also unsuccessfully sought meetings with President Donald Trump directly.
In 2025, the company’s lobbying efforts have also increased, spending $7.7 million in the first half of the year, or around double from the same period last year, according to the report.
UnitedHealth has been working to stabilize investor confidence while navigating recent financial turbulence, leadership changes and the ongoing federal investigations. The company said in July it was complying with criminal and civil investigations into its Medicare Advantage business, though the criminal probe is also examining how the pharmacy benefit manager, Optum Rx, compensates its employed physicians, Bloomberg reported in August.
CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz has promised scrutiny of Medicare Advantage and has announced initiatives this year to boost auditing of the program.
In April, UnitedHealth revised its 2025 earnings outlook, before suspending its forecast entirely in May over rising care costs, particularly within its Medicare business as reimbursement changes from CMS impacted profits. The enterprise is now projecting at least $14.65 in net earnings per share and total annual revenue between $444.5 billion and $448 billion.
“Public policy shapes healthcare across America, and it’s our responsibility to engage with the administration and Congress at all levels to improve patient access and affordability,” a UnitedHealth spokesperson told the Journal.
