The Committee on Publication is inspired by the work of Christian Science nurses, by their devotion to Christian Science, by the healing that they are witnessing. The Committee Office is so pleased to share what we are seeing in our work with governments and with the health care and insurance industries.

 

I would like to ask you all to ask yourselves the following question during this talk and in thinking about your activities: What does Christian Science 

The Mother Church  Boston, MA

nursing have to offer for the health of all mankind?

 

"A city set on a hill" cannot be hid -- Jesus said "ye are the light of the world." (Matthew 5)

 

Medical professionals and governments are acknowledging this. One medical professional describes Christian Science nursing as providing a "model for nursing." Christian Science nursing has a tender message of love for all individuals. We understand better now that the "business of health care" has an impact on Christian Science nursing.

 

In relation to Christian Science nursing, the Committee Office has two roles: removing impositions on Christian Science by providing accommodations in law which permit the practice of Christian Science nursing; and working with Medicare and private health plans in the United States so that Christian Scientists and others who are interested in this system of care are not denied access to Christian Science.

 

The Legislative Division along with our United Kingdom and Federal offices work to remove impositions on Christian Science by providing accommodations for Christian Science nursing worldwide. Our Federal Office has been very involved with health care reform in the US and many of you have assisted us in meetings on Capitol Hill with Congressmen and agency officials.

 

The new federal health care reform law does not yet contain any religious accommodation or exception for Christian Scientists and others who use spiritual care services.

 

To remedy this situation, the Federal Office continues to:

 

1.  Request that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) include the coverage of spiritual care services, such as Christian Science practitioner and Christian Science nursing (including facility) services, in the benefits that will be offered by health insurance companies under the new law.

 

2.  Seek a legislative solution with Congress that would allow anyone with a  

"sincerely held religious belief" against the federally mandated health insurance coverage to be exempt from the tax penalty for failing to have the required coverage.

 

 

Trend of medical specialization impacting Christian Science nursing

 

Perhaps the most important legislative/governmental development affecting Christian Science nursing throughout the world is that of the title protection that licensed nurses are urging on a worldwide basis. We learned several years ago that the International Council of Nurses, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, had made it one if its key objectives to have all Nursing Boards regulating the practices of licensed nursing limit the use of the title "nurse."

 

This worldwide trend is accelerating and requires our prayer. The name "Christian Science nurse" is central to our practice of Christian Science and it cannot be changed.

 

Another trend to be alert to is the use of the terms "physical care" and "wound care" because these terms within licensed nursing have distinct meaning. "Dressings" or "Wound management" is now considered a form of treatment that, in many places, by law, requires medical training and certification. We've been advised that what we do can be accurately referred to as "cleansing and bandaging" or "cleansing and covering."  

 

Mental capacity and Obstetrics are also topics which require attention to the laws of the jurisdiction where one is practicing.

 

There has recently been significant progress in the UK regarding Christian Science nursing. As you may recall in the early 2000's the Committee Office obtained accommodations to a new law in the UK that was not allowing any care facilities to have exemption from its provisions. Out of our work, a new category of "Houses without Medicine" was developed. At that time we also secured the use of the title "Christian Science nurse."

 

With governments we can never stand on the laurels of the past. The UK has a new agency created to govern Care Homes and once again the Christian Science Houses, Christian Science nurses, Linda Kohler, and in the future Caroleen Scholet, and the Committee Office are engaging to ensure that medical requirements are not imposed on Christian Science nursing. We had a remarkable meeting in July with the Quality Care Commission.

 

 

Legislative Activity of Committee on Publication for Christian Science nursing

 

Our legislative work in the area of Christian Science nursing in the US has accelerated to address significant gaps in law. There were 8 states where the law regarding the practice of Christian Science nursing needed immediate improvement. We have been involved with this project for at least 8 years, but for the last year and a half we have devoted significant work to this project. And there is significant healing to report. I will discuss our efforts with these 8 states after I provide a brief overview of the need for accommodations in the United States.

 

There are 14 states that need some kind of accommodations.

 

States that need both Title and Practice Accommodations: Five (5)

• Alaska
• New Mexico  (see recent release from Committee Office in Boston at the end)
• North Dakota
• South Carolina
• West Virginia

 

States that need Title Accommodations: Eight (8)

• Arkansas
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Kentucky
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• Utah

 

Practice Accommodation Needed: One (1)

• Wyoming

 

States that Have Title Restriction Provisions But There is Accommodation for the Title "Christian Science nurse": Thirteen (13)

• Arizona*
• Nebraska
• California                    
• New York
• Colorado                        
• Rhode Island
• Delaware                        
• Tennessee
• Idaho*
• Texas
• Maryland                       
• Washington
• Missouri                    
• North Carolina*

 

(*Accommodation is in the form of a written assurance received from regulatory authorities)

 

In summary, in the United States there are 27 states with title restrictions (14 need accommodations); the other 13 appear not to require legislative modification or regulatory assurances.

 

In public advertising on the web and elsewhere it is wise to use the full name "Christian Science nurse"

 

 

Committee's 8 states project in the US

 

This involves the states of Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Alaska, New Mexico, Wyoming and North Dakota. Let me quickly summarize the progress to date:

 

Mississippi:  We've obtained a letter from the Mississippi Board of Nursing.  Good news is that the Board does permit the practice in Mississippi.  The Mississippi Board of Nursing stated: "You can use other terms for your spiritual caregivers. . . . We at the Board of Nursing are not denying your religious ministry. You can provide access to care that is consistent with your religious beliefs. We have no jurisdiction over your religious ministry but we are denying you the use of the term 'nurse.'"

 

North Carolina:  The Committee met with the Board of Nursing this summer and obtained a letter from the Board stating that the practice of CS nursing is permissible in North Carolina.  Christian Science nurses need to be very careful to always use the full name "Christian Science nurse" and to make clear that they are not licensed nurses when representing themselves to the public in North Carolina. The Nursing Board stated:  "Provided that Christian Science caregivers do not represent themselves to the public to be nurses in North Carolina, there is no conflict or potential for conflict with our Board."

 

South Carolina:  The Committee has had several meetings with the South Carolina Board of Nursing. The most recent presentation was this summer. The Board has thus far not been willing to address whether the practice of Christian Science nursing is permissible in South Carolina because it continues to have concerns about use of the title "nurse." We will continue our work with the South Carolina Board of Nursing.

 

West Virginia:   We continue to engage with the Boards of Nursing in West Virginia. We anticipate that a meeting could be set up soon.

 

Alaska: We hope to have a meeting before the entire Board of Nursing soon to encourage a legislative accommodation to the Nurse Practice Act in Alaska.

 

New Mexico: By publication of the Vision Now! newsletter, we hope to be able to report a new accommodation in the regulations.

 

Wyoming: We have faced stiff resistance from an initial contact with an official at the Wyoming Board of Nursing.  We are praying and looking for other options to make progress with this jurisdiction.

 

North Dakota: The Committee Office has recently met with the North Dakota Board of Nursing and a dialogue has continued which is looking for a way to accommodate Christian Science nursing in North Dakota.

 

Please let Committees know how much you appreciate their work. Write, email, call, and offer your help.  

 

 

Public access to Christian Science

  

Insurance reimbursement is sometimes an avenue where our members and the public interact while accessingChristian Science care; therefore the Committee Office has for many years worked on insurance-related issues which impact Christian Science care.

 

I have mentioned the work of the Federal Office for health care reform. The Committee on Publication's Legislative Attorneys, Ken Bemis and Leslie Connery, are also working with State Committees obtaining accommodations for spiritual care in state health care reform legislation. We find we are at a historic junction regarding health care in the US.

 

The Committee Office has modestly been progressing in finding a path that would allow reimbursement for Christian Science nursing without medical requirements being imposed on the practice. There is a changing landscape of health care delivery in the US. It will impact your patients who have health insurance. The new Federal Health Care Reform law created encouragements for health care providers in the United States to file health insurance claims electronically by 2014. We are working with the Christian Science Nursing Activities department to help Christian Science nurses and Christian Science nursing facilities be ready for this deadline.

 

Some of you worked on a "relative value unit" survey that has been invaluable with our work with insurance companies. It will be helpful to the Christian Science nursing institutions in their contracting with insurance companies.

 

 

A Way Forward Together

 

In summary, a medical professional described Christian Science nursing as providing a "Vision of Nursing" for the health care professions. This individual indicated that Christian Science nurses could help the existing health care systems to more fully understand the relationship of health professionals to patients, the importance of environment and the necessity to focus on health and healing with patients.

 

We need to see that nothing can obscure the leaven at work in human consciousness.  Error cannot obscure the true nature, skill and value of Christian Science nursing.  

 

And finally, the medical professional found the most central thing that Christian Science nursing had to offer the world was its "unconditional acceptance and love for each person being cared for." To accomplish this "unconditional acceptance and love" she noted that Christian Science nurses remain nonjudgmental.  Christian Science nurses are an expression of love and hope. It is the Committee's goal to communicate this essence of Christian Science nursing to the public.

 

We will work closely with Christian Science Nursing Activities to keep you informed.

 

I asked the question at the beginning of the talk: What does Christian Science nursing offer for the health of all mankind? HEALING!

 

On page 570 of Science and Health the marginal heading reads: "Receptive hearts".

We all know the quote: "Millions of unprejudiced minds - simple seekers for Truth, weary wanderers, athirst in the desert - are waiting and watching for rest and drink."

 

Mrs. Eddy continues: "Those ready for the blessing you impart will give thanks. The waters will be pacified, and Christ will command the wave."

 

Christian Science nurses truly do have the "Vision of Nursing" for the world. 

  

NEW MEXICO - Update

 

The New Mexico Board of Nursing recently passed a regulation that sets forth an exception to the New Mexico Nurse Practice Act  for care of the sick in accord with a religious practice.  The new regulation reads:  

 

Jane is the Manager, Strategic Relations, Health Care and Insurance Industries in the Committee on Publication Office in Boston, Massachusetts.