Health Insurers Must Cover Prayer Under Democrats’ Bill
The L.A. Times reports on an overlooked development in the Democrats’ health care bill:
Inserted by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) with the support of Democratic Sens. John F. Kerry and the late Edward M. Kennedy…A little-noticed provision in the health care overhaul bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatments as medical expenses.
The measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments — which substitute for or supplement medical treatments — on the same footing as clinical medicine.
Phil Davis, a senior Christian Science Church official, said prayer treatment was an effective alternative to conventional health care. But critics say the measure could have a broader effect, conferring new status and medical legitimacy on practices that lie outside the realm of science.
The spiritual healing provision was introduced in the House by Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), whose district includes a Christian Science school, Principia College.
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