Ann Kierson

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

Murray Waas' four-month investigation that a giant health insurer had targeted policyholders recently diagnosed with breast cancer for aggressive investigations and cancelled some policies.

“We published the Murray Waas story in April and the reaction was swift,” said Claudia Parsons, deputy editor for enterprise reporting in the Americas. “The Obama administration and Congressional Democrats urged insurers to end the policy known as rescission immediately.