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<h2>Ashley is running to represent North Carolina's 10th District in the United States House of Representatives.</h2><a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NC/10" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here to determine what district you're located in.</a><img src="https://run.imgix.net/998e0e2c-3f71-4fae-be20-90063390b097/cd5f573c-2936-4465-9832-1589a2f623b4/cd5f573c-2936-4465-9832-1589a2f623b4.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C535%2C443&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="right" alignwidth="50" tiltdirection="right" variant="framed">

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Pizza Won't Fix It

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Stop Prior Authorization

Transparent costs

Cap Prescription Costs

Medicare for All

Unethical prior authorization practices by insurance companies delay treatment and put patient health at risk. Treatment decisions should be between the patient and the healthcare provider without a bean counter's interference.Costs for healthcare should be transparent and readily accessible, with no junk fees and no surprise billing. Patients shouldn't be expected to know what is or is not an emergency, or what provider/facility is or is not in network.No patient should have to go without the best treatment for their condition because it's too expensive. Prescription costs must be capped at an affordable rate, and predatory Pharmacy Benefit Managers (middlemen who jack up costs) must be outlawed.Ultimately, we must work towards Medicare for All - because no person in the richest country in the world should have to choose between their health and paying other bills.

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What does Ashley stand for?

Our Campaign’s Top Issues

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Ashley believes that just talking about an issue isn't enough. You have to #DoSomething to make it happen.These are draft pieces of legislation that Ashley will be introducing once she is elected to Congress.

Draft Bills

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<h3>Pat Harrigan, our current representative, and Trump think our pain is a "joke."</h3>Right from his own mouth, watch Sara Sidner's interview that exposes who Pat really is.

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National Preceptor Database

Subsidized Preceptor Fees

Student Loan Forgiveness

Fair Pay

Every healthcare educator knows that the rate limiting step for their program is the availability of clinical preceptors. Over time, greedy corporate run healthcare facilities have demanded payment for preceptors, although many of them precepted for free. Even now, many employers take the funds paid by the school and the individual preceptor never sees a dime of it. On top of that, the need to pay for precepting increases the overall cost of the student's education, and ultimately student loan burdens.Preceptors should have a guarantee of being paid if their employer is receiving a fee for their work. Healthcare programs should receive funding assistance for preceptor fees in order to avoid passing all of that cost onto the student. A national preceptor database should be created to cut down on the hours of work it takes to identify available preceptors, with participation in this database making preceptors eligible for tax incentives. Classroom educators and clinical preceptors should be eligible for student loan forgiveness after a predetermined length of service, and healthcare educator pay should be increased so that clinicians don't have to take an unmanageable pay cut to enter education.

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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Pizza won't fix it.</h2>If you've worked in healthcare for any period of time, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about when I say "Pizza Won't Fix It." That refers to the fact that overpaid administrators and CEOs seem to think that throwing pizza parties is not only an acceptable form of appreciation for those doing the work on the front lines, but that it will also shut us up about the issues with our healthcare system and our local employers.<h4 style="text-align: center;">Well.....they thought wrong.</h4>Ashley Bell has plans to fix our healthcare system once she gets to Congress - for patients, healthcare workers, healthcare educators AND healthcare students. Why? Because she's been in each of those shoes, and she knows first hand what it's like. Ashley understands that you can't fix just one part of a failing system and not address ALL of the building blocks. It's time that healthcare workers got the respect they deserve....that students can afford to go to school....that corporations get out of our exam rooms....and that patients get the best treatment possible.

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Click the document below for a comparison of the NC-10 Candidates and see why Ashley is the best choice to challenge Pat Harrigan.

Why Ashley?

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Fearless in the fight for the people of North Carolina and beyond.

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Ashley is endorsed/supported by....

Former DC police officer, author, activist

Michael Fanone

NC-5 US House candidate

David Clayton

Courage candidate supporting impeachment

Citizens' Impeachment

Political influencers

Red, Wine, &amp; Blue

Grassroots Organization

Track AIPAC

Comedian

Cliff Cash

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<h3></h3>.

Safe Staffing Ratios

No More F#@king Surveys

Clinicians Over Corporations

Unethical prior authorization practices by insurance companies delay treatment and put patient health at risk. Treatment decisions should be between the patient and the healthcare provider without a bean counter's interference.Staffing ratios are a matter of patient safety. Unsafe ratios put patients at risk and contribute to burnout. It's not acceptable for greedy administrators to put patients at risk as a cost-saving measure.Patient surveys are damaging to both provider morale and patient care. They are often filled out only by those dissatisfied or with unrealistic expectations and have been shown to favor low quality care over evidence based medicine. They are now tied to reimbursement for Medicaid &amp; Medicare and giving a false impression of quality of care. Administrators use them punitively rather than as a chance to improve processes, and healthcare workers get caught in the middle.Clinicians, not corporations, should be the ones running healthcare in this country. Greed has turned our healthcare system into a money making machine for those at the top. It's time for leadership of healthcare to be returned to those who have the expertise and prioritize patients over profits.

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It's not enough to talk about issues. You have to be willing to #DoSomething.Ashley is the ONLY candidate in this race who has first hand professional experience in healthcare, education, and national level advocacy.<a href="/38b9d02f-fafd-4f5a-980a-3be29cf35c11">Learn more.</a>

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<h2>The long version...</h2><img src="https://run.imgix.net/998e0e2c-3f71-4fae-be20-90063390b097/31db7bdd-6e69-4769-8467-dfa7cfce910c/31db7bdd-6e69-4769-8467-dfa7cfce910c.jpeg?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C8192%2C5464&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="left" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><h3>I'm a Physician Associate (PA), educator, and straight talker.</h3>Ashley Bell is a lifelong public servant, educator, and healthcare professional running for Congress to bring compassion, competence, and common sense back to Washington. As a physician associate, public school teacher and university professor, Ashley has built a career on putting people first — whether in the clinic, in the classroom, or in the community.Ashley’s journey began in ruby red rural East Texas, where she was raised by small business owners. Her grandfather started an HVAC business in 1957 that still operates today. She became the first in her family to attend college, graduating from the University of Houston - depending on the Pell grant, academic and music scholarships, and multiple part time jobs to pay her way.Her career began in Texas public schools, where she discovered her passion for service through music and teaching. As a junior high and high school band director, Ashley inspired young minds and led students to success, showing that with the right leadership, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. Driven by a desire to make an even greater impact, Ashley pursued a career in medicine at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem NC — earning her credentials as a physician associate and becoming a trusted healthcare provider and mentor. She later earned a Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg.In her role as a PA, Ashley has cared for thousands of patients, treating not just symptoms but stories. She has seen firsthand how policy decisions made in Washington ripple through exam rooms, emergency departments, and struggling rural clinics. That experience fueled her next chapter: shaping the future of healthcare by educating the next generation of providers. She understands the importance of truth through science, and has taught evidence based medicine and research skills at both masters and doctoral levels.When Ashley developed a chronic illness in 2023, and her academic employer at the time refused to honor her reasonable disability accommodations that would have allowed her to continue working while managing her illness, she was forced to choose her health over her job. The resulting loss of health insurance, income, and financial stability exposed a painful truth: that in our current environment, everyone - regardless of their current situation - is just one challenge away from losing everything. After regaining control over her illness, rebuilding her life, and refocusing her priorities, Ashley became interested in disability issues and rights.Ashley knows what it means to work hard, serve others, rise to meet a challenge, and pick oneself up after tough times. Her story isn’t about climbing a political ladder — it’s about answering a call. A call from working families who can’t afford another round of political games. A call from students drowning in debt. A call from patients waiting weeks for care they need today. Ashley is running because she believes leadership is about showing up, listening, and doing the right thing — even when it’s not easy.Rooted in the values of education, service, and equity, Ashley’s campaign is focused on bold solutions: expanding access to healthcare, strengthening public education, protecting reproductive freedom, and building an economy that works for everyone — not just the wealthy and well-connected.Ashley Bell is not a career politician. She’s a teacher, a healer, a neighbor — and now, a candidate who refuses to accept the status quo. She knows what’s at stake, and she believes that together, we can create a future where every voice is heard, every family is valued, and every community has a chance to thrive.

Reform Student Loan System

Rural Practice Incentives

Pipeline Programs

Students in healthcare programs are being saddled with insurmountable debt. Our student loan programs must be reformed to decrease interest rates and offer manageable repayment plans.Public service loan forgiveness should be protected, and qualifications for the National Health Service Corps loan repayment and scholarship programs should be expanded. The NHSC should be funded at a higher rate in order to assist more students in going into rural healthcare.Often, the cost of application or a lack of knowledge of application requirements derails a student from pursuing healthcare as a career. Existing pipeline programs for students in high school and undergraduate programs should be expanded and new ones created to overcome these barriers.

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Running for NC-10, US House, against Pat Harrigan.

Ashley Bell for Congress

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Walk Out and Walk In to Harrigan's Office

This is a NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION sponsored nationally by 50501, Removal Coalition, Women's March, Citizens' Impeachment, and FreeSpeechforPeople.org; sponsored locally by Ashley Bell for Congress.2:00 pm WALK OUT anywhere everywhere3:00 pm: Meet in front of Harrigan's Hickory Office. Bring postcards, letters, signs, and audacity.<a href="http://RemoveTheRegime.com">RemoveTheRegime.com</a>

Walk Out and Walk In

ICE as an institution has terrorized immigrants and US Citizens alike. They cannot be trusted and will never be trusted in the future. They have done irreparable damage to local law enforcement agencies, who have had their attempts to regain and maintain trust undermined by a violent paramilitary force.Not only should we abolish ICE, but we should hold those who beat, murdered and enabled these crimes accountable. This includes agents AND leadership in DHS/ICE/CBP.Reform or additional training will not fix this issue. This administration has already demonstrated that they do not follow rules, training or laws. This doesn't mean that we don't need immigration enforcement or immigration reform. We DO. But to quote Andrea Pitzker, American journalist: "The correct response to Dachau was not better training for the guards.” Saying we need to reform ICE is like saying Germany should have reformed the Gestapo. We need an entirely new system, process and method of enforcement.Taking a clear stand on this particular issue, in Ashley's opinion, is a preview of the type a representative will be. If a candidate can't clearly stand on the side of human rights and call out criminal actions, they're showing they'll play both sides in Congress on other issues.And we don't need another Fetterman or Tillis.

ICE has terrorized immigrants and US Citizens alike. They cannot be trusted and will never be trusted in the future. We need humane and legal immigration reform.

Abolish ICE

Ashley has signed the Money out of Politics pledge (<a href="https://moneyoutofpolitics.org/candidate-integrity-pledge/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">moneyoutofpolitics.org) and will refuse AIPAC, SuperPAC, corporate PAC and for profit corporation funding.</a>Why we must get money out of politics<ul><li>Big donors drown out everyday voters—policy starts serving wealth, not people</li><li>It fuels corruption and the appearance of corruption, eroding trust in democracy</li><li>Lawmakers spend more time fundraising than governing</li><li>Industries buy influence to block reforms (healthcare, housing, climate, wages)</li><li>It locks in inequality: those with money get access; everyone else gets ignored</li><li>It radicalizes politics—outrage raises cash faster than problem-solving</li></ul>How we do it<ul><li>Overturn Citizens United with a constitutional amendment</li><li>Cap individual and corporate political donations</li><li>Ban corporate PACs and dark-money groups</li><li>Require real-time, full transparency of all political spending</li><li>Create public financing of elections (small-donor matching)</li><li>Give every voter “democracy dollars” to support candidates</li><li>Prohibit members of Congress from trading stocks or lobbying after office</li><li>Enforce strict penalties for violations</li></ul>Bottom line <ul><li>Democracy should be powered by people, not purchased by corporations</li><li>Your voice should matter more than a billionaire’s check</li><li>Government should answer to voters—not donors</li></ul>

Running for office should be accessible to every American. Right now, it's not - only the rich can afford to run a competitive campaign. And that impacts everyone, not just candidates.

Money Out of Politics

Tell Harrigan: Impeach, Convict, Remove

This is a NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION, sponsored nationally by FLARE USA and Citizens' Impeachment, and sponsored locally by Ashley Bell for Congress. Meet in front of Harrigan's office at App State Hickory to demand impeachment of this fascist regime. Bring letters, postcards, signs, and courage.<a href="https://flareusa.cargo.site/events">https://flareusa.cargo.site/events</a>

Promoting disability rights benefits society as a whole. Inclusive education and workplaces foster innovation and diversity. Public spaces designed for accessibility serve everyone. Upholding disability rights challenges harmful stereotypes and builds a more compassionate, just world. It shifts the narrative from viewing disability as a deficit to understanding it as a natural part of the human experience—one that should be met with support, respect, and equal opportunity.Between the elimination of DEI programs and cuts to Medicaid, disability rights are under attack. Ashley recognizes this first hand: she was forced to resign from a teaching position because the university refused to honor accommodations for her disability, even though her supervisor agreed that they were reasonable. Furthermore, the process for fighting back against this injustice involved expenses for attorneys and a six month delay for the next available appointment with an ADA representative.

Those with disabilities have a lot to contribute to our society. They deserve the right to do so.

Disability Rights

Education is under attack in America. From early childhood programs to universities, education is being underfunded, privatized, and influenced by political extremists. Trump is currently trying to dismantle the Department of Education. Why? Because education is how we develop critical thinking skills that enable us to think for ourselves, rather than blindly follow whatever he says.<ul><li>Increase support for public schools. Public schools are the backbone of our educational system. They should be appropriately funded and supported in order to provide high quality education to every student, regardless of the situation. (NC state legislature, we're looking at you. Fund public schools as the Leandro decision required you to do.)</li><li>Want your kid to go to a charter or private school? Great. Don't make taxpayers fund the bill. These schools often have little to no standards they have to meet and there is often no oversight on what is being taught. Taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for that. And public schools shouldn't have their funding depleted in order to pay for charter schools.</li></ul><ul><li>Treat teachers with the respect they deserve and PAY THEM. Teachers shouldn't have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Teachers should be paid much more than their current wage. They shouldn't be forced to teach propaganda and treat it as fact. They should not fear for their lives due to gun violence, nor feel that they have to arm themselves at their workplaces.</li><li>Protect programs that help with the cost of higher education. Student loans, Pell grants, and Public Service Loan Forgiveness made it possible for Ashley to get an education and become a PA. Without these programs, less students will become professionals in fields that our country needs to survive.</li><li>Make the cost of higher education feasible for everyone regardless of socioeconomic status. The cost of higher education has become exorbitant, which limits access and drives increased student loan debt. Community college, skills training and vocational school should be free for students.</li><li>Fund Universal pre-K and provide subsidized childcare.</li><li>Feed kids. Make school meals free.</li></ul>

Education and training open doors regardless of the field or level. They should be accessible to every American.

Education

In this country, freedom means the right to live without fear, the right to love without shame, and the right to be seen and treated as fully human. That freedom is not negotiable.I believe in the dignity and equality of every person — no matter who they are or who they love. LGBTQ+ Americans deserve the same rights, protections, and opportunities as anyone else. Period.In Congress, I will fight to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination in all its forms. I will defend marriage equality, support inclusive anti-harassment policies, and oppose any attempts to roll back hard-won civil rights.The politics of hate, division, and fear have no place in a country that calls itself free. If we are truly a nation of liberty and justice for all, then “all” must mean all — including our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and family.Let’s build a future where every person can live with pride, safety, and full equality under the law. Because love is not a threat. Hate is.

LGBTQ rights are human rights....period.

LGBTQ+ Rights

<ul><li>Medicare For All. This is the goal. Our country is the only "superpower" that does not pay for healthcare for its citizens. Preventative, basic, emergency, dental, vision, and mental healthcare should be paid for 100%. (If we tax billionaires appropriately and stop spending billions on a paramilitary domestic terrorism force called ICE, we can afford it easily.)</li><li>Provide support and funding for private practices. Corporate interests and private insurance industry corruption have robbed our healthcare providers of the ability to start and maintain a private practice. Mergers and acquisitions of these money hungry companies disguised as nonprofits lead to disruptions in care and many times, decreases in quality. Healthcare should be provider led, not profit driven.</li><li>Support healthcare providers. Our country is losing healthcare providers and other healthcare staff in droves. Why? Corporate medicine, short staffing, physical assaults, prior authorization tactics from greedy insurance companies....the list goes on and on. We have to end these unjust practices and start supporting healthcare workers like the heroes they are.</li><li>Increase funding for healthcare provider training. Our failing healthcare system doesn't stop in our hospitals and clinics. Healthcare provider training programs suffer from lack of funding and resources.Clinical training sites are scarce, and corporate interests have driven an expectation for educational institutions to pay ever-increasing fees to place students in these sites, driving up the cost of education.Educational programs have difficulty recruiting faculty because they are unable to pay wages that are comparable to those of clinical practice.These programs then must decrease enrollment, because they are unable to afford the costs of larger class sizes. This vicious cycle means that less healthcare providers are entering the market, which leads to decreased healthcare access for the public.</li><li>Protect the National Health Service Corps and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. These programs are instrumental in recruiting and retaining healthcare providers to work in medically underserved and rural areas.</li><li>Permanently expand telemedicine legal flexibilities. During the COVID19 pandemic, telemedicine was vital to managing the healthcare needs of Americans. Restrictions on telemedicine have been proven unnecessary, and telemedicine increases access to those who might otherwise have difficulty reaching in-person care.</li><li>Support compact and multi-state licensure. Currently, most healthcare providers must have licenses in each state they want to practice in. License application processes are lengthy, requiring from 3 to 6 months or more to approve. This creates unnecessary delays, expenses, and ultimately barriers to care for patients.</li><li>Reinstate funding for research. The Trump administration has ended funding for vital research programs, which causes progress on cures for diseases to come to a halt. More Americans will suffer and die because of this lack of funding.</li><li>Ban surprise medical billing. It's not acceptable for people to get bills after the fact. Patients need to be informed about costs and risks BEFORE they agree to a procedure, and costs should be transparent.</li><li>Untether healthcare coverage from employment. Being healthy shouldn't be tied to a job, and people shouldn't be forced to stay in a job solely for healthcare coverage. This also helps employers who offer healthcare benefits by shifting the financial responsibility to the government. (Again, if we tax billionaires appropriately and stop spending billions on a paramilitary domestic terrorism force called ICE, we can afford it easily.)</li></ul>

Medicare for All is attainable and necessary. Corporate interests have ruined our current healthcare system. Untether healthcare benefits from employment. Support healthcare providers.

Medicare for All...and more

Ashley Bell is running for office with an urgent mission: to save American democracy. At a time when fundamental freedoms, fair elections, and the rule of law are under attack, Ashley is stepping up with the courage to defend our institutions and restore faith in government.Ashley understands that preserving democracy means standing up to extremism, protecting the voices of everyday people, and fighting for accountability at every level.Our country's executive branch is employing tactics used in 1930s Germany, Russia and other authoritarian regimes. The judicial branch has been weaponized. Judges are being arrested, and local leaders are being threatened with the same. United States citizens and legal residents are being deported without due process. Congress is controlled by a political party that has been brainwashed and threatened into compliance.As a Courage Candidate with <a href="https://citizensimpeachment.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Citizens' Impeachment</a>, Ashley has committed to filing articles of impeachment against Donald J. Trump on day 1 of her Congressional term....but she's not stopping there. She will file against additional members of the cabinet as needed to get our country back on track.Ashley will also demand that those committing crimes against Americans - whether they're DHS agents, insurrectionists, cabinet members, or the President - be held accountable. Our country can't move forward until we do so.<h4></h4><span class="image video image-center" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/IrJPfGOTjd0?si=-QlejqN5zKVwV2Oo&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" style="width: 80%;"><img imageurl="https://run.imgix.net/998e0e2c-3f71-4fae-be20-90063390b097/b80f31fa-4c2e-491a-93c7-83a8a772b74b/b80f31fa-4c2e-491a-93c7-83a8a772b74b.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1472%2C736&amp;w=1500" embedcode="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/IrJPfGOTjd0?si=-QlejqN5zKVwV2Oo&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" src="https://run.imgix.net/998e0e2c-3f71-4fae-be20-90063390b097/b80f31fa-4c2e-491a-93c7-83a8a772b74b/b80f31fa-4c2e-491a-93c7-83a8a772b74b.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1472%2C736&amp;w=1500" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/IrJPfGOTjd0?si=-QlejqN5zKVwV2Oo&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;"><span class="video-button-placeholder" data-embed="&lt;iframe width=&quot;560&quot; height=&quot;315&quot; src=&quot;https://www.youtube.com/embed/IrJPfGOTjd0?si=-QlejqN5zKVwV2Oo&quot; title=&quot;YouTube video player&quot; frameborder=&quot;0&quot; allow=&quot;accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share&quot; referrerpolicy=&quot;strict-origin-when-cross-origin&quot; allowfullscreen&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;">

Top priority: to end the hostile takeover of our country by fascists. Then, clean up the mess that's been made since January 2025.

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Save America

Insurance costs are astronomical, and not affordable for most Americans. Despite this, patients and providers often have to fight to get insurance companies to do what they agreed to do when the policy was issued - pay for medical care.<ul><li>Prior authorization must be abolished. Healthcare providers are well qualified to recommend the best treatment for their patients. This should be all that is required for an insurance company to pay for said treatment. Insurance companies have been allowed to practice medicine without a license for far too long. Prior authorization wastes time for providers and staff, and delays needed treatment for patients. The only ones who benefit are the insurance companies who make billions in the business of keeping Americans sick.</li><li>Formularies must go. A formulary is a list of drugs an insurance company will pay for based on a particular medical condition. Often these formularies list drugs or doses that are no longer considered effective, or not the best treatment for that condition. Formularies are entirely focused on saving the insurance company money. Healthcare providers should be able to recommend the best treatment for their patients, regardless of the insurance company's financial concerns.</li><li>Pharmacy benefit managers should be outlawed. These organizations (like CVS Caremark, ExpressScripts, OptumRx) are destructive, unnecessary middlemen that increase insurance company profits, impede healthy competition between pharmacies, put independently owned pharmacies out of business, increase the cost of medications, and cause headaches for patients and providers. They also own pharmacies, creating a huge conflict of interest, and United Healthcare owns a bank (Optum Bank)! - this is utterly ridiculous.</li><li>Cap prescription drug prices. If a drug is necessary, it should be affordable to obtain, and insurance should cover it without a fight. In Medicare for All, prescriptions will be covered. Until then, a cap on drug prices must be instituted.</li><li>Insurance companies must make all contracts and publications clear and easy to understand. If a healthcare provider who's been practicing for 14 years (like Ashley) sometimes has trouble figuring out what the insurance company will cover, how do they expect someone with no medical training to understand?</li><li>Insurance companies must reimburse providers at a fair rate for the services they are providing. Reimbursements have dropped to the point that providers are often unable to financially sustain their private practices. This leads to loss of jobs for staff, the inability for providers to offer certain services, greedy corporate takeover of privately owned practices, and ultimately lack of access for patients.</li><li>Protect laws that prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.</li></ul>

Insurance companies can no longer be allowed to dictate diagnosis and treatment. Prior authorization must end, and patients should get the service they're paying for without a fight.

Make Insurance Pay

Women are more than capable of making their own decisions and running their own lives. We don't need the government, politicians, or anyone else helping us with that.<ul><li>Codify a woman's right to choose. Abortion restrictions and bans have not only violated the right to choose to end a pregnancy, but they have been devastating for those with wanted pregnancies who can't get the life-saving care they need. Abortion care is between a woman and her healthcare provider. Healthcare providers are being threatened with jail time, murder charges, and even the death penalty for doing their jobs and saving lives. The science and the facts don't support the pro-life movement. But, this movement was never about science or facts. It's about control. Women have died because some politicians have control issues. Let that sink in.</li></ul><img src="https://run.imgix.net/998e0e2c-3f71-4fae-be20-90063390b097/86660bcf-adfc-47eb-be33-b029db6b0bff/86660bcf-adfc-47eb-be33-b029db6b0bff.png?ixlib=js-3.8.0&amp;bri=0&amp;con=0&amp;sat=0&amp;high=0&amp;shad=0&amp;usm=0&amp;rect=0%2C0%2C1080%2C1350&amp;w=1500" alt="" caption="" align="center" alignwidth="40" tiltdirection="left" variant="framed"><ul><li>Increase and ensure access to Plan B and Ella, the "morning after" pills. Access to these medications is not about encouraging unsafe sex or reversing a bad decision. Some patients cannot take birth control for medical reasons. Rape victims shouldn't be forced to conceive their rapist's child. Condoms sometimes fail. Plan B and Ella are NOT abortion pills. They do not end pregnancies once they have already begun. They are safe and effective.</li><li>Repeal any legislation that makes it difficult for women to vote. Recent legislation (like the SAVE Act) imposes unfair and unnecessary requirements that disproportionately impact women. All eligible voters should have every opportunity to exercise their right to vote without jumping through hoops to do so.</li><li>Advocate for wage equality and increase penalties for violations of the Equal Pay Act. Even in 2025, women are still paid less than men for doing the same job - women earn about 83 cents for every dollar earned by men. This is unacceptable.</li></ul>

Abortion, birth control, voting, and more....Let's go, girls.

Women's Rights

<ul><li>Increase aid for necessary costs. <ul><li>Cap prescription drug prices and outlaw PBM middleman games</li><li>Protect and expand ACA subsidies</li><li>Universal out-of-pocket caps for healthcare</li><li>Insulin, inhalers, and EpiPens capped monthly</li><li>End surprise billing and junk fees in healthcare</li></ul></li><li>Make housing affordable.<ul><li>Incentivize construction of starter homes and duplexes</li><li>Fund first-time homebuyer assistance</li><li>Expand low-interest construction loans for rural communities</li><li>Stop Wall Street from hoarding single-family homes</li><li>Tie federal infrastructure dollars to local housing production</li></ul></li><li>Decrease everyday prices.<ul><li>Enforce antitrust laws against grocery, meat, and energy monopolies</li><li>Ban hidden fees in banking, travel, telecom, and utilities</li><li>Expand community solar and energy efficiency rebates</li></ul></li><li>Increase take home pay.<ul><li>$17/hour National Minimum Wage with cost of living scale adjustments</li><li>Expand the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit</li><li>Support paid family leave so a baby doesn’t mean bankruptcy</li><li>Student loan relief for public service and healthcare workers</li><li>Workforce training tied to real local jobs</li></ul></li><li>Cut other costs.<ul><li>Automatic student loan repayment caps</li><li>Universal free school meals</li><li>Childcare tax credits and direct subsidies</li><li>Simplify tax filing and reinstate IRS Free File</li></ul></li></ul>

Everything is too expensive. We have to institute a national minimum wage, expand aid for costs that people can't avoid, and make costs for others more manageable. And...stop the TACO rollercoaster with the tariffs.

Affordability

Ashley is a Democrat running for US House in North Carolina District 10. Join us and fight back against fascism.