The Kansas Health Institute announced Monday that State Budget Director Duane Goossen will join the institute early next year as vice president for fiscal and health policy. Goossen, a Goessel native, also serves as secretary of the Kansas Department of Admini?stration. He expects to remain in his current positions through the transition to a new governor and administration. Goossen has served as budget director for 12 years in the administrations of three governors: Repub?lican Bill Graves and Democrats Kathleen Sebelius and Mark Parkin?son. He was appointed by Sebelius in 2004 to head the agency that manages state facilities, accounting, information services and employee programs. ?Duane is a perfect fit for KHI,? said Robert St. Peter, president and chief executive officer. ?His professional experience as a legislator and policy adviser to governors and cabinet members along with his personal reputation for integrity and his ability to bring clarity to complex issues will be tremendous assets to KHI and the work that we do.? KHI is an independent, nonprofit research and policy organization that also operates the KHI News Service. It was founded in 1995 with a multi-year operating grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. ?KHI is highly respected statewide and nationally for its longstanding commitment to providing policymakers with accurate, timely and actionable information on a wide range of health policy issues,? Goossen said. ?I am excited about the opportunity to continue to work on the critical health, budget and human services issues that have been important to me since my days as a legislator. ?And I am eager to contribute what I?ve learned about state government and fiscal policy to KHI?s ongoing work.? Goossen represented the 70th District in the Kansas House from 1983?1997. He lives in Topeka with his wife and two children.
