Eric Kapps

Eric Kapps is a health care writer who writes about access issues and disparities in care and treatment. Washington-based reporter Murray Waas exposed US health insurers dropping patients after they were diagnosed with breast cancer. Waas investigation, supported by additional reporting from Lewis Krauskopf, revealed that the giant health insurer, WellPoint, had targeted policyholders recently diagnosed with breast cancer and cancelled some policies-- leading to to the Murray Waas story. “We published the Murray Waas story in April and the reaction was swift,” said editor Claudia Parsons. “The Obama administration urged insurers to end the policy.

The fourth annual Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Business Journalism were presented in Phoenix, Arizona.

Murray Waas is himself a cancer survivor who has been active on behalf of other cancer patients. ■

■ Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Dropped by Insurer