Aug 7 (Reuters) - Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth

Warren are launching an investigation into UnitedHealth Group ( UNH )

related to allegations that the healthcare conglomerate

secretly paid nursing homes thousands in bonuses to help slash

hospital transfers for ailing residents.

In a letter dated August 6 to UnitedHealth ( UNH ) CEO Stephen

Hemsley, the senators called on the company to provide detailed

information about its reported incentive programming and its

impact on residents.

The senators have sought responses by September 8.

In May, the UK's Guardian newspaper reported the company

made secret payments to nursing homes, as part of a series of

cost-cutting tactics, that saved the company millions, but at

times risked residents' health, citing an investigation carried

out by the newspaper.

At that time, UnitedHealth ( UNH ) had said the U.S. Department of

Justice had investigated those allegations, interviewed

witnesses, and obtained thousands of documents that demonstrated

the significant factual inaccuracies in the allegations.