The Drug Bill Won’t Die: ACA-Backed Power Grab in Montana Presses On
Originally published: 2025-04-29
“This Bill Won’t Stay Dead”
House Bill 929—the controversial legislation that would allow chiropractors in Montana to prescribe drugs—was narrowly defeated 6–5 in committee. But despite repeated grassroots opposition and damning testimony exposing insider manipulation, the bill is still alive.
On April 24, a vote for reconsideration failed 5–5, and now, with the Montana legislative session nearing its end, a “blast” amendment could bring it to the Senate floor as soon as Monday, April 28. The Chiropractic Freedom Coalition and concerned chiropractors across the state continue to contact legislators and call for a “NO” vote, but political pressure behind the scenes has not let up.
“It lost the vote—but not the war.”
Regulatory Capture and ACA Control: What the ICA Won’t Say
Recently, the International Chiropractors Association (ICA) posted on social media:
“There is no national or international chiropractic organization that has officially endorsed HB 929. We all support keeping chiropractic a nondrug profession.”
But that “officially” is doing a lot of work—and it’s deeply misleading.
The ICA knows full well that the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is directly behind HB 929. The ACA’s scope expansion agenda is central to this bill, and it’s directly tied to the ACA’s Medicare modernization plan that would link federal reimbursement to expanded state scope—including drug prescription rights.
So why is the ICA refusing to call this out?
Meanwhile, the Montana Chiropractic Association (MCA)—an official ACA affiliate—is the local driver of the bill. According to ACA’s own description of affiliate relationships:
“Each organization’s vision of the future of chiropractic and their current policies, positions and plans for professional development are largely compatible… each organization will share information, infrastructure, staff and member support for joint programs and initiatives to advance the chiropractic profession for the benefit of our patients.”
In plain language: the ACA controls the MCA. So if the MCA is pushing HB 929, it’s because the ACA wants it that way.
ChiroCongress Remains Silent While the Profession Burns
Worse yet, ChiroCongress—the trade association that claims to represent state associations across the country, including the MCA—has said nothing. Despite presenting itself as an advocate for drug-free chiropractic and collaboration, ChiroCongress refused to speak out or support efforts to stop HB 929.
When reached for help, ChiroCongress President Dr. Brian Stenzler refused to offer a statement of opposition.
This is the same ChiroCongress that is a core participant in the secretive Chiropractic Summit, a coalition of powerful organizations—many tied to the ACA—that meets behind closed doors and regularly works to centralize control over chiropractic’s future. Their silence on HB 929 isn’t neutrality—it’s complicity.
“How can ChiroCongress look itself in the mirror after abandoning drug-free chiropractic in Montana?”
Meet the Power Players Behind the Bill
This isn’t about legislation—it’s about a hostile takeover of chiropractic by those who are positioned to benefit from rewriting its identity:
Dr. Greg Oblander, MCA’s 2024 Chiropractor of the Year and Montana House Republican, introduced both HB 500 and HB 929.
Dr. Ryan Oblander, his son, purchased ACA President Marcus Nynas’ practice, sits on the MCA Board, the Insurance & Legislative Committee, and is a dues-paying ACA member.
Dr. Caitlin Walter, Vice President of MCA, also serves on the state board and is an ACA member—she helped the board “abstain” from HB 500 while personally testifying in support.
Dr. Marcus Nynas, ACA President, former MCA President, architect of this entire legislative strategy, and original owner of the Oblanders’ clinic.
Dr. Dustin Rising and Dr. Julie Murack, both state board members and ACA members, have publicly supported the bill and serve alongside Walter and Ryan Oblander within the MCA and its committees.
Together, these individuals control legislation, regulation, association leadership, and practice expansion—while claiming to “represent” the public and profession.
The MCA–ACA Power Structure
The Montana Chiropractic Association (MCA) is more than a state trade group. It’s an ACA affiliate, operating under ACA’s strategic umbrella. MCA’s leadership includes:
Dr. Caitlin Walter – MCA VP, State Board member, ACA member
Dr. Dustin Rising – MCA Board, State Board member, ACA member
Dr. Julie Murack – State Board President, ACA member
Dr. Sheridan Jones – MCA President
Dr. Mike Welker – MCA Past President
They’re all connected through MCA’s Insurance and Legislative Committee, which is responsible for policy drafting and lobbying strategy. These individuals are not neutral regulators or dispassionate professionals—they are active market participants with a clear goal: rewrite chiropractic’s scope to include drugs and rebrand the profession in line with ACA’s medicalized vision.
“This was not legislation—it was a power grab. The ACA just used Montana as its launchpad.”
What Comes Next?
As of April 28, HB 929 remains tabled, but under Montana’s “blast” rule, any senator can attempt to force it out of committee to the Senate floor. With time running out in the session, it’s a race between the clock—and the people still working behind the scenes to revive the bill.
This is the moment. Chiropractors in Montana and across the U.S. must recognize what’s at stake. Unless the profession loudly and unequivocally declares that drugs have no place in chiropractic, this bill—or one just like it—will pass. If not this year, then next.
This is no longer about Montana. This is about the future of chiropractic itself.
