Montana, Chiropractic & DRUGS: Power Grab & Regulatory Capture
Originally published: 2025-04-05
Montana’s Chiropractic Power Grab & Regulatory Capture
Representative Greg Oblander, the sponsor of Montana’s HB 929, is a chiropractor and active member of the Montana Chiropractic Association (MCA), which is itself an Affiliate of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). His son, Dr. Ryan Oblander, also a chiropractor, purchased the practice of Dr. Marcus Nynas, who is the immediate past president of the MCA and the current president of the ACA. Multiple members of the Montana Board of Chiropractic are also members of the MCA and ACA, blurring the lines between regulation and lobbying. These overlapping roles represent a closed-loop of influence pushing coordinated policy changes—including drug prescribing—through state legislation and national lobbying strategies.
Conflict of Interest at the Core
The Montana Chiropractic Board is pushing to expand drug rights while its members and influencers are deeply tied to lobbying groups like the Montana Chiropractic Association (MCA) and the American Chiropractic Association (ACA).
These groups are not neutral—they are politically and financially invested in scope expansion.
2. Insiders Trading Influence
Marcus Nynas, former MCA President and now ACA President, sold his practice to Ryan Oblander, son of Rep. Greg Oblander, the bill’s sponsor.
This tight-knit circle of influence is driving legislation that benefits their network—not patients.
3. The ACA’s National Strategy
The ACA is pushing to tie Medicare coverage to state scope—meaning if Montana allows chiropractors to prescribe drugs, it could lead to Medicare paying for chiropractic drug prescriptions. More states are already following Montana’s lead.
This is a backdoor strategy to medicalize chiropractic through legislation.
4. Regulatory Capture Is Real
The Montana Board of Chiropractic is acting more like an arm of the MCA and ACA than a public safety body.
Board members have shown shocking ignorance about the drugs in question while trying to expand scope beyond their legal and professional understanding.
5. This Isn’t About Patients—It’s About Power
Expanding scope to include drugs is being driven by political ambition, professional empire-building, and personal gain—not public demand or evidence-based need.
