Democrats’ healthcare bill would pay for ‘prayer’ treatment

[jgraz]

What do Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have in common?

A soft spot for Christian Scientists.

The three senators have quietly inserted a provision into the Democrats' healthcare overhaul that would allow the Christian Science church to receive remuneration from the federal government for prayer treatments as medical expenses.

<snip>

"The measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments -- which substitute for or supplement medical treatments -- on the same footing as clinical medicine," the Los Angeles Times' Tom Hamburger and Kim Geiger, who found the measure, write. "While not mentioning the church by name, it would prohibit discrimination against 'religious and spiritual healthcare.'"

http://rawstory.com/2009/11/democrats-healthcare-bill-pay-prayer-treatment

[polichick]

1. But it wouldn't pay for abortions, which are legal in this country?? nt

[jgraz]

2. Maybe if they were "prayer abortions"?

:shrug:

[polichick]

6. Yeah - looks like pandering to me. nt

[ihavenobias]

31. Excellent point. n/t

[Lost-in-FL]

3. Death by divine panels?

would they pay for Voodoo Treatments?

[barbtries]

4. that is total bullshit

can anyone tell me why there would be a bill?

[katandmoon]

5. What a fucking crock!

[Solly Mack]

7. I'm so going to open a Prayer Treatment Clinic

Hire people for outreach to various sects/denominations/religions as Clinical Prayer Technicians. Charge 150 bucks a prayer plus incidentals, bill your insurance company (but will happily take cash)& grease the salvation pathway of area clergy to make sure their flocks use my service.

[tyedyeto]

16. When will the application be available?

I think you should also branch out and offer online email prayers. That way you can hire people all over the country... just don't outsource those prayers to India. ROFL

[Sebastian Doyle]

18. Well of course not

You couldn't outsource prayers to India. They would send them to the wrong god! :rofl:

[Solly Mack]

21. Oooh!!! with email prayer I could be up and running tomorrow!

Simple yet effective web page, paypal...and away I go!

[monmouth]

8. Provisions for birth control would solve many problems....n/t

[TwilightGardener]

9. I can be refunded for treatment for praying that someone gets well?

How do I break into this biz???

[Eric J in MN]

15. Convert to a Christian Scientist, then you too can be a scam artist.

Actually, don't.

[TwilightGardener]

19. LOL. This really takes some of the shine off Kennedy and Kerry for me, though.

I'm disappointed that they would use taxpayer money for quackery and fraud.

[joeybee12]

10. The Christian Scientists are HQ'ed in Boston...

...must be sending Kerry lots of checks.

[Vickers]

11. Does that mean they can be sued for malpractice, too?

:rofl:

[Eric J in MN]

22. They're opening themselves up to that.

They can't tell the insurance company, our prayer-treatment really cures people, and then after a patient dies, tell a court that they were just using their freedom-of-religion.

Or at least if they do, a jury may not buy it.

[redqueen]

12. Oh FFS.

:banghead:

[Eric J in MN]

13. I don't want my insurance premiums going towards fakery. NT

NT

[asjr]

14. From now on if anyone asks me to pray for them, I will

immediately say Pay up first.

[robinlynne]

17. Ted Kennedy? How did he do that?

[jgraz]

24. Through prayer, obviously.

<sheesh>

[robinlynne]

29. lol.

[dysfunctional press]

20. what expenses are involved with prayer?

:shrug:

[Eric J in MN]

23. The person saying the prayers needs to get paid for his time...

...if he's doing this professionally.

[dysfunctional press]

25. why would a 'professional' be required for prayer?

do they go to school to learn special prayer skills and techniques that aren't available to the layman..?

[dflprincess]

26. With the high out of pockets this bill allows

a lot of people will be praying they don't get sick. I wonder if they can get reimbursed for using prayer as a "wellness" program?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

27. "Take 2 prayers, and call me in the morning. That'll be $2000, pay on your way out."

[Sinti]

28. Do they get paid under the present regime?

Either way it's ridiculous, but if they did get paid now at least there would be some reasoning behind it.

[robinlynne]

30. oh HELL no. I'm sorry. HELL NO.