Gore has said he eventually would like to see universal health care for all in the United States and Gore aides believe they have a potent issue with health care. The Bush campaign counters that the Republican governor already has enacted a patients' bill of rights in Texas that is considered a model by the American Medical Association. Medical decisions are made by doctors, not insurance companies or health maintenance organizations. Doctors can tell patients about all options, not just the least expensive ones. Medical records are kept private, and health insurers and employers cannot discriminate against people based on genetic information that is now becoming available through human genome mapping.
People can appeal a decision to deny coverage made by their health plans and sue their health plans.
A significant piece of the Texas bill of rights legislation, giving patients the right the sue insurance companies, became law without Bush's signature. Women have direct access to their obstetrician and gynecologist and are covered for a minimum of 48 hours in the hospital after giving birth. Employees have the right to choose their own doctor, even outside their health plan, so long as they are willing to pay additional costs of that coverage. People have access to their own specialists. Final medical decisions must be made by doctors, not HMOs.