Multiple senior executives at UnitedHealthcare are under investigation by the Department of Justice. It's unclear if CEO Brian Thompson was involved before his murder.
Thompson was shot dead in midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning. Police are calling it a targeted attack.
Executives were reportedly accused of insider trading and fraud. Last year, the DOJ launched a probe into whether UnitedHealthcare was monopolizing the market and stifling competitors.
Just last month, the DOJ and attorneys general from several states filed a lawsuit. The lawsuit aimed to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion acquisition of Amedisys Inc., a rival home health and hospice provider.
According to the DOJ, this acquisition would eliminate competition. Patients, insurers, and healthcare workers would face harm without competitive options.
"We are challenging this merger because patients and their families deserve affordable, high-quality care," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "The Justice Department will not hesitate to act against monopolization that harms vulnerable patients and workers."
Both UnitedHealth and Amedisys are direct competitors. The DOJ warned that merging the two would remove vital choices for home health and hospice care.
UnitedHealth proposed divesting facilities to VitalCaring Group to address competition concerns. But the DOJ stated this wouldn’t solve issues in over 100 markets. These markets generate over a billion dollars annually, serve 200,000 patients, and employ at least 4,000 nurses.
"American healthcare is unwell," said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter. "If this $3.3 billion deal proceeds, UnitedHealth Group will tighten its grip on home health and hospice care, endangering seniors, families, and nurses."