"A little-noticed" measure in the healthcare reform bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatment as medical expenses, the Los Angeles Times reports. The newspaper says the provision has the backing of Sens. Orrin Hatch and John Kerry, as well as lobbyists for the Christian Science Church. Phil Davis, a church official, tells the Times, "We are making the case for this, believing there is a connection between healthcare and spirituality. We think this is an important aspect of the solution, when you are talking about not only keeping the cost down, but finding effective healthcare."

But the newspaper notes supporters of the First Amendment principle of the separation of church and state are concerned that the provision would amount to federal funding of religious services.

Erwin Chemerinsky, a constitutional law expert and dean of the UC Irvine School of Law, told the newspaper, "I think when Congress mandates that health companies provide coverage for prayer, it has the effect of the government advancing religion."

Sen. Hatch said he was pushing the provision because "everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, should have access to healthcare."

A pediatrician and medical ethicist at the University of Wisconsin said the provision, however, should be dumped because it would pay for services that are not medical.

"They want a special exception for people who use unproved treatments, and they also want to get paid for it," said Dr. Norman Fost. "They want people who use prayer to have it just automatically accepted as a legitimate therapy."