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Healthcare

As a PhD prepared nurse who continues to teach new nursing students, I have seen first-hand the negative impact of the COVID pandemic on the mental health of our health professionals and the strain that response caused on our hospital and public health systems. We must fight the rising cost of healthcare, simplify insurance processes, fortify our hospital and public health systems, and strengthen the resiliency and support of our healthcare providers and responders. 

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As a nurse who has provided humanitarian aid in low-income countries such as Uganda and Nepal, I have seen firsthand the devastating, life-threatening health consequences that occur with the lack of vaccines. 

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As the wife of a husband with a chronic health condition, I am constantly challenged by the maze of insurance processes and approvals needed to receive care and lifegiving medications. I will diligently work to increase access to health care and medications, especially for our rural, underserved, and elderly populations, to increase vital access to health providers, medical therapies, and medication.

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In the West Virginia House of Delegates, Summer Hartley will advocate for lowering insurance costs, improving the quality of care, supporting the certificate of need, supporting vaccine safety, and ensuring protections for West Virginians with pre-existing conditions. 

Advocating for more evidence-based programs and practices that protect the mental health of our health care providers and first responders:

Advocating for more evidence-based programs and practices that protect the mental health of our health care providers and first responders: It is imperative that we protect our nurses, doctors, and first responders and from the psychological stress of responding to medical surges and disasters by building resiliency through evidence-based programs. 

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Continue to champion bills supporting the 340B program:

Continue to champion bills supporting the 340B program: this program helps bridge this gap by allowing eligible patients to purchase their medications at much lower prices. West Viginia is neither a wealthy state nor a health state.  Thus, further reinforcing the importance of having wide and affordable access to otherwise super-expensive prescription drugs and comprehensive medical care is imperative to our state.

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Increasing healthcare access

Summer Hartley is an advocate for increased healthcare access.  We need to accomplish this by continuing to expand telehealth opportunities that bring vital health services to our rural and disabled populations, and working to lower the health literacy levels needed to navigate our health and insurance systems.

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Improving healthcare cost and delivery 

We need to keep our hospitals and health care facilities open by supporting the certificate of need program that controls health care costs, improves the quality and efficiency of our health care systems, and ensures a system of health care delivery which makes health services available to all residents of the State. To continue to support our health delivery systems, we need to create and support innovative programs to recruit and train the next generation of nurses and health care workers, such as the new diploma nursing program being led by WVU Medicine.  We need to ensure insulin prices are capped and increase resources for programs to help people break free of the scourge of opioid addiction. 

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