Three ICA Witnesses Testify Against Scope Expansion into Medicine

March 4, 2025 – True to our mission to protect and promote chiropractic worldwide, the ICA is actively engaged in the fight against expanding the Montana Scope of Practice to include prescribing rights and injections. ICA Board Member Dr. Hugo M. Gibson, Assembly Representative Dr. Donald Gibson, and ICA Member Dr. Jack Berg testified in opposition to HB500 before the Montana House Committee on Business and Labor and the ICA submitted formal testimony to the committee (see attached). 

“Stepping into the world of pharmacology can be a dangerous misstep, not just for us, but most importantly for our patients,” wrote Dr. Hugo M. Gibson in a letter to the House Committee. “Taking a ‘board-approved course’ does not and will not constitute adequate training.” 

H.B. 500 would allow chiropractors to prescribe pharmaceuticals, including muscle relaxers, NSAIDs, steroids, and trigger point injections. The bill also gives the Montana Board of Chiropractors authority to expand the list of permissible drugs. The ICA submitted evidence confirming the proposed list of approved drugs are not innocuous but include products with FDA black box warnings; and incredibly complex drug-drug interactions that are potentially life threatening. Expanding chiropractic to include drug prescribing is a dangerous and misguided step. ICA promotes patient centered care that includes professional collaboration among healthcare professionals to meet the needs of patients who may need prescriptions. We stringently oppose HB500.  

“The over-prescribing of pain medication is linked to long-term dependency, and we must ask ourselves: are we prepared to manage that risk?” Dr. Gibson asked. “When chiropractors step into the role of prescribing medications, even for seemingly harmless muscle relaxants, we’re entering a realm that we’re not equipped to navigate fully.” 

The ICA urges Montana chiropractors and the public to contact their legislators in the House and Senate and educate their patients on the risks of this bill. While working to stop it in the House, the ICA stands ready to oppose it in the Senate if necessary. As of March 4, the Bill has passed a “second reading” in the House and an Appropriations Committee hearing is in process.