Health Care Bill to Pay for Prayers

[ClydeR]

The measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments -- which substitute for or supplement medical treatments -- on the same footing as clinical medicine. While not mentioning the church by name, it would prohibit discrimination against "religious and spiritual healthcare."

It would have a minor effect on the overall cost of the bill -- Christian Science is a small church, and the prayer treatments can cost as little as $20 a day. But it has nevertheless stirred an intense controversy over the constitutional separation of church and state, and the possibility that other churches might seek reimbursements for so-called spiritual healing.

More... (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-health-religion3-2009nov03,0,2239900.story)

This is fine so long as it is open to all Christian churches and not just the Christian Scientists. Since Senator Orrin Hatch is the one who put it in the bill, I assume it will be open to all Christian churches. I only hope Hatch understands that Mormons aren't really Christians.

[Seran]

Kerry’s spokeswoman, Whitney Smith, told the Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-health-religion3-2009nov03,0,6879249,full.story) that insurers would not be forced to cover prayer. Instead, she said, “the amendment would prevent insurers from discriminating against benefits that qualify as spiritual care if the care is recognized by the IRS as a legitimate medical expense.

What is ridiculous about this statement is that it -would- force insurers to cover the costs of 'prayer treatments' because the IRS does already allow for those services to be deducted on itemized health care costs, if one has enough services to itemize there.

I'm still trying to find the exact provisions of the amendment to the Healthcare bill, but this is a blatant violation of Separation by acknowledging one faiths "prayer" as being reimbursable above others. That is tantamount to saying that the Church of Christ Scientist practices the only form of worship which is effective.

One has to wonder whether this is simply an attempt to get the Supreme Court to overturn the bill due to it's unconstitutional language if that provision is adopted.

[ClydeR]

One has to wonder whether this is simply an attempt to get the Supreme Court to overturn the bill due to it's unconstitutional language if that provision is adopted.

I don't know why it would be unconstitutional. Lots of medical treatments are allowed even though they have not been scientifically documented to be effective, especially unproven new cancer drugs. It's a matter of faith. If you're going to allow any experimental treatments, then you shouldn't discriminate against those based on religion.

[Seran]

The effectiveness of prayer, or faith cannot be scientifically proven. Insurance companies should not be required to pay for treatments which are not FDA approved simply because a bill tells them they cannot discriminate against such options.

Also, fucking read the First Amendment and know that the government is not allowed to endorse religion. Giving preference to one religious groups treatment is such an endorsement, and unconstitutional.

[Deathravin]

I sure hope you're not actually trying to debate ClydeR, Seran...

[Seran]

Yes, I admit I am fail.

[ClydeR]

Giving preference to one religious groups treatment is such an endorsement, and unconstitutional.

Where you went wrong was in misreading the article. The article says that all groups, not just Christian Scientists, will be eligible for payments for prayers.

Lots of churches have weekly prayer lists when they pray for all the sick people in their congregation. There's no telling how much money those churches have saved insurance companies over the years. I don't see anything wrong with making insurance companies pay the churches for that service.

I imagine a lot of churches will start submitting insurance claims for their weekly prayers for the sick.

[g++]

I cant wait until scientologists figures this out. Will make a good issue of the times when they reveal we paid for 2 billion dollars in spiritual auditing for the flu I guess.