A little-noticed provision in the health care bill in the Senate would require that insurers put Christian Science prayer treatments on the same level as clinical medicine and at least consider covering it. The measure would apply only to the proposed exchange program that would allow consumers to shop among insurance plans that meet certain standards set by the government. And it has some powerful supporters. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah inserted the measure and got the support of Democratic Sens. John Kerry and the late Edward Kennedy from Massachusetts, where the Church of Christ, Scientist is based. The provision wouldn't be particularly expensive, but critics say it could give new credibility to the unproven treatment and might even be considered an unconstitutional endorsement of religion by the government, although some legal experts dispute that notion.

Proof that we'd be worse off had Kerry gotten elected.

Am I the only one that wishes to God that fucking Orrin Hatch would die, and soon?

All of which is to say, this little girl died in vain.

-janelane

Health Care Overhaul Would Embrace Prayer as Treatment