Staff: Dave Ranney | Kansas Health Institute

Dave Ranney, Senior Writer/Editor, is a journalist who has covered state government for the Harris News Service, the Wichita Eagle and, most recently, the Lawrence Journal-World. He has a special interest in social services. Ranney received the Burton W. Marvin Kansas News Enterprise Award in 2000. The award recognizes outstanding reporting by a Kansas newspaper. Ranney, who holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology, worked with adults with developmental disabilities for eight years before becoming a reporter.

Work by Dave

Legislative impasse continues

House and Senate knock off for the weekend with budget and taxe issues still unsettled

The Statehouse stalemate on budget and taxes continues. Lawmakers ended the week with no agreement on either matter before taking the weekend off. Negotiations are expected to resume next week.

Governor's mental health initiative panned at Manhattan meeting

Critics say mental health system is stretched too thin to do more without additional funding

The Kansas Department for Aging and Disabilty Services has been conducting a listening tour to collect public input on Gov. Sam Brownback's mental health initiative. In Manhattan, critics said the mental health system is stretched too thin to do more without additional funding.

At least four Kansas coalitions applying for navigator grants

Federal funding intended to help prepare people for the new health insurance marketplace

At least four Kansas coalitions plan to apply for federal grants aimed at helping consumers navigate the new, online health insurance marketplaces that are supposed to be in place nationwide by Oct. 1 as part of the Affordable Care Act.

Report on sexual predator program taking longer than expected

Panel hears about similar programs in other states

A task force charged with coming up with a plan for reforming the Sexual Predator Treatment Program at Larned State Hospital has agreed to spend another month developing its recommendations.

Economy, substance abuse contributing to rise in foster care numbers, official says

A state official charged with overseeing the state’s foster care system blamed the economy and drug and alcohol abuse for a recent increase in the number of children in state custody.

Knowledge gap: The ACA marketplace is coming but who knows?

Navigators will try to explain Obamacare and connect people with affordable health plans

Enrollment for health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s new online marketplaces is scheduled to start Oct. 1 in Kansas and across the nation. But it is clear that many, if not most, of the millions of people expected to benefit from the so-called “insurance exchanges,” still know little or nothing about how the marketplaces are supposed to work or the law behind them.

KAC goes to court seeking release of tobacco settlement terms from AG's Office

A child advocacy group has filed a petition in Shawnee County District Court, asking the judge to order Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt to release an independent auditor’s report on how much money the nation’s tobacco companies are likely to pay the state over the next five years.

Safety-net clinics eligible for $1.7 million in federal marketplace grants

To be used to help enroll people in plans through the new health insurance exchange

Federal official today announced that 16 safety-net clinics in Kansas are eligible for more than $1.7 million in grants to help the state’s uninsured and underinsured residents find affordable health insurance through the new online insurance marketplace that is scheduled to be operational by Oct. 1.

Advocacy group's Open Records request generates no new information

Kansas Action for Children wanted more information sooner from AG's office

The head of of a Topeka-based child advocacy group said today that she was disappointed she couldn't get more information sooner from the Attorney General's Office about details of the state's recent arbitration agreement with the nation's tobacco companies. Legislators return to the Statehouse on Wednesday to begin wrapping up the budget and that information could be useful for deciding how to fund children's programs, she and others said.

Majority of hospitals plan contracts with all three KanCare MCOs

KHA survey shows 87 percent will be in all KanCare networks despite reported increase in administrative burden

The large majority of Kansas hospitals already have contracts or intend to contract with all three of the state’s KanCare managed care companies, officials say.

View all work