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In the current push to approve the new Health Care Reform Bill by November26, state lawmakers are nearing an agreement that will answer the question ofhow effective health care reform can be for all Californians. In addition toproviding conventional coverage for those who choose it, the reform bill is anopportunity to provide access to and coverage for spiritual healing as anoption to meet the personal health care needs of Californians.
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Currently, the bill does not specifically include the possibility ofinsurance coverage for Californians to utilize a prayer-based method oftreatment, and many are concerned that this method of treatment may get lostin the current focus on providing coverage for traditional systems.
According to Brian Talcott, state spokesman for the Christian ScienceChurch, "The goal of any mandated universal health care system should be toprovide access to effective care that addresses all aspects of an individual'swellbeing--and spiritual care achieves this goal."
While much of the focus of reform in California is on mandating coveragefor medical care, there are many who elect to use a spiritually based methodof healing in lieu of a medical method. They not only find it to be reliableand immediate but also cost effective. "If people can achieve healing throughspiritual means without incurring large medical bills, that obviously is abenefit to society," Talcott said. "A spiritual approach to health care isviable and helpful to the public in many ways," he added, "and should be partof any healthcare delivery system that California develops. We have anopportunity in California right now to reform health care in ways that benefitthe wonderfully diverse population that we have here."
SOURCE The First Church of Christ, Scientist
