Nancy Kassebaum: Kansas trailblazer who shaped health reform dies at 94

Nancy Kassebaum, a three-term Kansas senator and rare female pioneer in U.S. politics, dies at 94. She helped shepherd health care reform in the 1990s, notably the Kennedy-Kassebaum Act (HIPAA) ensuring affordable coverage when changing jobs and protecting health data privacy. A centrist who worked across party lines with Bob Dole, she was Kansas’ first woman elected to a full Senate term, later marrying former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker. Her legacy includes civility in politics and recognition with the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2025.