Topeka ? Andrew Allison has been named acting executive director of the Kansas Health Policy Authority.

The KHPA board made the announcement Tuesday.

Allison, who has been deputy director of KHPA since December 2005, will succeed Marcia Nielsen who stepped down to accept a faculty and administration position with the Kansas University Medical Center.

KHPA Board Chairman Joe Tilghman said Allison, 42, will serve as acting executive director until a permanent appointment is made. He said the board will start discussions on naming a permanent executive director later this summer.

KHPA manages Kansas’ Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program.