Vantage Point – Former Kansas Insurance Commissioner. Sandy Praeger was Kansas Insurance Commissioner from 2002-15. She also served as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2008. Previously she served in the Kansas Senate from 1992-2000, and before that one term in the Kansas House of Representatives. While in the legislature, she worked to gain passage of patient protection laws, external review of health plans and insurance, and the Kansas expansion of children’s health insurance. In 2001 she led the successful campaign for mental health parity in Kansas. She served as mayor of Lawrence from 1986-87, and she served on the Lawrence City Commission from 1985-89. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Dr. Nathan B. Davis Award, bestowed annually by the American Medical Association. AARP and the Kansas Wildlife Federation have recognized Praeger as their “legislator of the year”. The Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved also recognized her leadership on health care access issues. She was also recognized by The Center for Populations Options for legislation she sponsored in 1994 to create teen pregnancy prevention programs in Kansas. Her community involvement includes the United Way of Douglas County Board of Directors, and she is a founding member of three local boards: Health Care Access, Haskell Indian Nations University Foundation and C.A.S.A. (an organization dedicated to helping children who come under the jurisdiction of the court).  Praeger is a graduate of the University of Kansas. She lives in Lawrence with her husband, Dr. Mark Praeger.