SCOTTSDALE, AZ -- Rich Evans is a member of the Christian Science Church.
“I’ve had wonderful healings -- malaria in the peace corps -- entirely through spiritual care without any medical involvement,” Evans said.
It’s a small church whose members pay people to pray for their healing.
“Healing in Christian Science is the proof that helps us demonstrate what Christian Science stands for,” Evans said.
A provision in the health care reform bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatments.
Evans says that in health care reform the church saw an opportunity to be included.
“It seemed important that we keep spiritual care at the table, not just for Christian Scientists but for the public,” he said.
It wouldn’t add much to the overall cost of the bill.
“The fees we charge are so modest, for example I charge around $25 a day,” Evans said.
But the provision is raising controversy surrounding seperation of church and state.
Another issue is that the church isn’t mentioned by name in the bill. Opposition groups say that allows other churches to seek reimbursement for prayer.
The most vocal group, Freedom From Religion, is asking people to write to Congress using the following wording:
"Congress must not encourage medical maltreatment of dependent children and the government should not be forcing taxpayers or insurance companies to pay for prayer and other religious rituals. Please remove this irresponsible mandate from S. 1679, and from future health care reform bills."Evans says the IRS already allows the prayer treatments to be counted as itemized medical expenses.
He says no matter what happens "it’s not about whether Christian Scientists can practice Christian Science. We were before, we will after."
But if Freedom From Religion gets its way they’ll be practicing without insurance coverage.
