- kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/Michelle-Andrews-on-premium-cuts-and-rebates.aspx
- kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/Michelle-Andrews-on-Decline-In-Autopsies.aspx
- kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/Michelle-Andrews-on-kids-vaccines-and-refusal.aspx
- kaiserhealthnews.org/Features/Insuring-Your-Health/michelle-andrews-on-infertility-coverage.aspx
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
01/24/11, 05/17/11, 06/06/11, 09/26/11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Explanation of beat: Insuring Your Health by Michelle Andrews is a weekly column dedicated to explaining to consumers how their health care is evolving given the upheaval caused by the 2010 federal health law and the dramatic changes going on in health care and insurance industries. That is a massive topic, but Andrews pares it down each week to a simple, compelling story featuring on-the-record interviews with ordinary patients about their concerns and problems and authoritative explanations based on interviews with insurance or health care experts and a wide variety of research and studies. She finds an extraordinary number of fresh approaches to problems the beset consumers and breaks new ground with stories such as the autopsy and pediatrics columns submitted here. She has a lively and engaging writing style that makes even the most complex insurance issues understandable. We heartily recommend Michelle Andrews’ work for this award. These weekly Insuring Your Health columns by Michelle Andrews cover a wide array of consumer concerns about the federal health overhaul, insurance and medical access. For this contest we have chosen four columns that explain: the dearth of insurance coverage for infertility treatments, the decline in autopsies performed at hospitals, the effect of a health law provision setting standards for insurance companies’ expenses and profits, and a rebellion among a small group of pediatricians who are refusing to treat children whose parents don’t want them vaccinated.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Although generally under 900 words, these columns pack a wealth of information. Michelle Andrews uses reports by academics and research groups, such as the CDC research on vaccinations among children in the pediatrician column, the fine print of the 2010 health law and the federal regulations, state and industry reports, including the Connecticut insurance records for Aetna that helped inform the story about medical loss ratio standards. She is careful to include Internet links to as many of these as area available to help readers find the original material too.
Explain types of human sources used.
Michelle Andrews has an ever growing list of experts that she uses to explain these complicated issues. They include consumer advocates, industry experts, and state and federal officials. But the real treasure in her columns is her ability to find consumers who bring these complicated issues to a very personal level. She always includes that personal perspective.
Results:
The columns have struck a chord with readers. They run in The Washington Post, MSNBC and the Los Angeles Times and in other outlets, and we received e-mail responses from readers with their personal concerns and comments about the issues.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Michelle Andrews makes this column look deceptively simple. But in fact, she is taking very complicated issues and peeling them back layer by layer for readers. Others who would like to try this should remember that a key part of a successful strategy is choosing the subject. It must have a real effect on readers. Then it is imperative to report deeply on the question but keep the writing simple and personal.