Reuters takes gold in US investigative business journalism awards

Murray Waas of Reuters has won the gold award at the Barlett & Steele Awards for Investigative Business Journalism, for his report on allegations that a health insurer was trying to cancel the policies of cancer sufferers.

The awards, which are funded by the Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism and are now in their fourth year, recognise the best in print and online investigative business media.

Waas received $5,000 in prize money for the article, titled "Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, Dropped by Insurer".

According to a report by the Reynolds Center, Waas' four-month investigation found that a health insurer had been targeting policyholders who had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, in order to carry out “aggressive investigations with the intent to cancel their policies”.

In a statement the judges congratulated the news organisation on its article's wider impact on the industry.

"Reuters contrasted the upfront public stance of a health-care company and its CEO to the reality behind the scenes, revealing the insidiousness of gate-keeping by software. This investigation led to government pressure and an industry-wide change in the practice of dropping health-care coverage for patients after they became sick."

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel received the silver award for its investigation into the conflicts of interest of doctors.

Honorable mentions

McClatchy Newspapers
"Goldman Sachs and the Housing Crash" by Greg Gordon, Kevin Hall and Chris Adams

Minneapolis Star Tribune
"Hounded: Debtors and the New Breed of Collectors" by Chris Serres and Glenn Howatt

Philadelphia Inquirer
"Inside the Health-Care Crucible: Reports from a Hospital in a Time of Upheaval" by Michael Vitez

USA Today
"The Credit Trap" by Kathy Chu

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