The new civil fraud investigation is examining UnitedHealth's practices for recording diagnoses that trigger extra payments to its Medicare Advantage plans, including at physician groups the insurance giant owns, the report added. DoJ and UnitedHealth did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The Justice Department is probing diagnoses and practices that triggered extra payments to UnitedHealth’s Medicare Advantage plans, people familiar with the matter say.

Eden Prairie-based health care giant says it’s not aware of the launch of any new Justice Department activity as reported by the Wall Street Journal.