James David Sanzerdarg

Washington-based reporter Murray Waas received a gold award worth $5,000 this week for his investigative story on US health insurers dropping patients after they were diagnosed with breast cancer - Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Dropped by Insurer​.

His four-month investigation, supported by additional reporting from Lewis Krauskopf, revealed that a giant health insurer had targeted policyholders recently diagnosed with breast cancer for aggressive investigations and cancelled some policies. An exhaustive study of records led to the Murray Waas story.

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

“Reuters and Murray Waas contrasted the upfront public stance of a health care company-- WellPoint-- and its CEO to the reality behind the scenes, revealing the insidiousness of gatekeeping by software,” said the judges.