- bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-10/insurance-fraud-probed-with-romney-s-fundraiser-cited-by-victims.html
- bloomberg.com/video/79865124/
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
11-Nov-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Armstrong reported on the booming business of pain treatment – a market characterized in many places by high prices, aggressive marketing and bogus advances that have harmed some patients and fleeced others. In the story “Chiropractor Backing Romney” Armstrong revealed how pain clinics are profiting from treating car crash victims with a variety of expensive therapies that experts say are of limited or no help to people in pain. One clinic operator has been so successful with this model that he travels in his own private jet and recently built a 30,000-square-foot oceanfront mansion.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
These stories relied upon a wide array of documents, data and web resources. A public records request was made for Florida inpatient and outpatient databases cataloging every discharge at those facilities; public records requests were also made for physician disciplinary records as well as judiciary records related to lawyer advertising complaints. Other documents used include campaign finance records, incorporation records, doctor licensing records, state health department facility inspection records, studies from the scientific and medical literature, malpractice claims database and broad use of court filings in local, state and federal courts.
Explain types of human sources used.
Human sources included patients, doctors, nurses, medical experts, law enforcement investigators, regulators, and market analysts.
Results:
The stories were reported on or followed by many media outlets. The top insurance fraud investigator in Florida called for an end to the heavily-advertised accident clinic services reported on by Bloomberg.
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.
The owner of a chain of clinics cited in the story requested retractions of certain facts. Bloomberg reviewed the letter and informed the clinic owner that it could find no errors to correct.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Identify areas of increased spending in healthcare and figure out who is profiting from that growth and why.