Montana Prescriptive Authority Bill Tabled in State

Montana chiropractors recently faced a significant legislative hurdle as House Bill 929, which sought to grant them optional prescriptive authority, was tabled in the state Senate. Sponsored by Dr. Greg Oblander, a chiropractor and state representative, this pivotal bill aimed to empower Montana DCs to prescribe specific non-controlled, nonscheduled formulary drugs for musculoskeletal pain, including over-the-counter analgesics, NSAIDs, muscle relaxants, and various topical medications. Despite successfully passing House review on April 5, 2025, the legislation faced considerable opposition from organizations like the International Chiropractors Association and the Montana Medical Association, with malpractice insurers also noting inevitable rate increases if it became law.A notable point of contention arose concerning the American Chiropractic Association's stance, where Dr. Oblander's testimony suggesting ACA support contrasted with the ACA's official position of neutrality on state-level legislation. Had the bill been enacted, chiropractors seeking this authority would have needed a special license endorsement from the state board, requiring extensive pharmacology education and adherence to new protocols. This isn't an isolated incident; Dr. Oblander previously sponsored similar legislation (H.B. 500) that narrowly failed earlier in 2025, underscoring that the battle over prescriptive authority in Montana is far from over, a debate set to resurface given the state's biennial legislative sessions.