A Charge To Keep: on Health Care

Against mandates not related to patient care

Bush vetoed the Texas Patient Protection Act despite protests because the “bill had a host of mandates and regulations not directly related to patient care.”

HMOs are forbidden to enact “gag clauses”
insurance companies must pay for hospital emergency care in real emergencies
women can go directly to their gynecologist
Patients with ongoing illnesses cannot be required to change doctors

Source: “A Charge to Keep”, p.189-195

Bush signed Texas’ version of Patient Bill of Rights

Thanks to the laws I signed, in Texas. HMOs are forbidden to enact “gag clauses” that discourage doctors from discussing treatment options, insurance must pay for hospital emergency care, women can go directly to their gynecologist. Patients with lengthy, ongoing illnesses cannot be required to change doctors, and if cancer patients need treatment that is not provided within their. network, their insurance must refer them to specialty hospitals and pay for that care. Source: “A Charge to Keep”, p.195

Strengthen Medicare through choice and other options

Medicare should be strengthened by providing more choice and more private sector alternatives for the elderly, including plans that offer coverage for prescription drugs. I support medical savings accounts and patient protections in federal health care plans similar to the ones I signed in Texas. I would not, however, support allowing the federal government to supersede the health reforms already enacted by states such as mine. Source: “A Charge to Keep”, p.238

*The above quotations are from A Charge To Keep: My Journey to the White House, by George W. Bush.* Click here for definitions & background information on Health Care. Click here for more quotes by George W. Bush on Health Care.
*Other candidates on Health Care:*
Pat Buchanan George W. Bush Al Gore Ralph Nader Harry Browne Dick Cheney Joe Lieberman *2002 Candidates:* Elizabeth Dole Janet Reno Jeb Bush Robert Reich	*Withdrawn Candidates:* Lamar Alexander Gary Bauer Bill Bradley Steve Forbes Orrin Hatch John Kasich Alan Keyes John McCain Dan Quayle Bob Smith Donald Trump Paul Wellstone
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