In a clear reversal, UnitedHealth Group said Thursday it is cooperating with a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into its Medicare business.

The disclosure was an about-face from the company’s response in May when the Wall Street Journal first reported the DOJ had opened a criminal investigation into the company. At the time, UnitedHealth attacked the Journal’s reporting in a published statement, calling it “ deeply irresponsible ”.

One of the largest health care companies in the world, UnitedHealth’s stock slid more than 4% by Thursday afternoon, continuing an unprecedented drop since December in the company’s $260 billion value.

Subsequent reporting in June revealed the Justice Department’s criminal health care fraud unit was investigating how UnitedHealth Group deploye

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