Another reason why I'm not game on Government run Health Care. The special interests lobby the
expert panels about just what's Medical, and we'll end up with care-protocols as complex as the
Chicago City Zoning Ordinances.
From Today's Chicago Trib:
Should prayers be covered? Christian Scientists want 'spiritual care' as part of health bill.
As the health care battle moved forward last week, Phil Davis, a senior Christian Science church official, hurriedly delivered bundles of letters to Senate offices promoting a little-noticed proposal in the legislation requiring insurers to consider covering the church's prayer treatments just as they do other medical expenses.
Critics say the proposal would essentially put Christian Science prayer treatments on the same footing as science-based medical care by prohibiting discrimination against "religious and spiritual health care."
While advancing below the radar as debate focuses on larger issues such as the "public option," the Christian Scientists' proviso has begun to stir controversy because it rekindles debate on three long-running and sensitive issues: freedom of religion; the constitutional separation of church and state; and the question of whether faith-based approaches should be treated as equivalent to science-based medicine.
The Chiropractors
aren't far behind.
Former House Majority Leader Gephardt Joins Chiropractic Cause
The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has retained Gephardt Government Affairs, headed by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, to reinforce its efforts to ensure that any national health care reform legislation passed by Congress includes the services of doctors of chiropractic on par with other physician services in respect to access, reimbursement and scope of practice.
ACA hired Gephardt Government Affairs to enhance its current lobbying efforts and to underscore the necessity of including chiropractic care without limitations and on an equal level to other health care providers. Gephardt, one of Washington’s most respected and well-known political figures, has been a strong proponent of the chiropractic profession. His company is one of Washington’s top public affairs groups.
“The American Chiropractic Association continues to work to achieve professional and patient-focused goals in the health care reform debate,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “We are maximizing our effectiveness by having Dick Gephardt and his team on the side of doctors of chiropractic. This is a critical time in the ongoing health care reform debate, and ACA is taking this significant step forward to ensure chiropractic is rightfully included.”
“Chiropractic care is a valuable and cost-effective service,” said Dick Gephardt. “I am pleased to be working with the American Chiropractic Association to ensure that doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic services are treated equitably in the reformed health care system.”
ACA, based in Arlington, Va., is the largest chiropractic organization in the United States. The association provides lobbying, public relations, professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, funds research, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession. ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.
Gephardt Government Affairs was founded in 2007 by former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and specializes in helping clients develop political and public policy strategies. Learn more at: www.gephardtDC.com.
Cost effective is the key word. These interventions have a lot of appeal to budget strapped legislatures because they're cheap. Get them into the Gov-Approved-Expert-Panel-Evidence-driven-protocol and that's how Medical care will be delivered with Health Care reform. It'll be your only choice.
