The Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation, has sent an impassioned letter to Montana Governor Greg Gianforte on October 2, 2023, highlighting disturbing trends within the Montana Chiropractic Board. If you are a chiropractor, patient, or concerned Montanan, you must be aware of this looming crisis.
The Foundation's letter sheds light on how the Montana Chiropractic Association (MCA) and its affiliate, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), appear to be using the state board as a pawn to advance their monopolistic interests. This isn't just a matter of professional politicking. If successful, their maneuvers would stifle the diversity and quality of chiropractic care in Montana, leaving thousands of Montanans with fewer choices and potentially inflated costs.
Key players on the chiropractic board like Marcus Nynas, Dustin Rising, Rick Forrette, and Richard Murak, all of whom have significant ties to the MCA and ACA, are at the helm of these troubling changes. The primary concern? Pushing for revisions that give the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) and the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) undue power over the state's chiropractic licensing process by creating a monopoly for them.
But why should this concern you? At its core, this power play is an attempt to limit choices for Montanans and restrain trade. Such actions are in direct contrast to American values and free-market principles. What's more, the potential conflicts of interest highlighted by the Foundation raise serious questions about the ethical, legal, and moral standards of those entrusted to serve Montana's public interest.
We stand at a pivotal moment. If these changes are implemented, they could reshape the chiropractic landscape in Montana for years to come. Monopolies stifle innovation, limit choices, and tend to increase costs for consumers. We cannot sit idly by and watch this happen.
Join the Call to Action!
Inspired by the Foundation's initiative, we must come together as a community. If you are as alarmed by this situation as we are, take action now:
1. Write to Governor Greg Gianforte and express your concerns about the proposed changes and potential conflicts of interest within the Montana Chiropractic Board.
2. Share the Foundation's letter and this blog post with your colleagues, patients and other trade groups.
3. Engage in local chiropractic associations and community groups to raise awareness of this issue.
Let us ensure that the chiropractic profession in Montana remains diverse, competitive, and dedicated to the best interests of its citizens. Stand up, speak out, and let your voice be heard!
Contact the Montana Board of Chiropractic and let them know that they should not be adding CCE and NBCE Only language and contact the Governor's office and let them know what the chiropractors on the Montana Board are doing in his state.
Email the Board 1: dlibsdchi@mt.gov
Email the Board 2: jbreker@mt.gov
CLICK HERE to Contact the Governor
Here is the full text of the Foundation's letter:
Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
Vice President
Foundation for Vertebral Subluxation
October 2, 2023
Governor Greg Gianforte
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-0801
Dear Governor Gianforte,
I write to bring to your attention a matter of utmost importance concerning the regulatory landscape of chiropractic practice in Montana. Recent activities of the Montana Chiropractic Board, under the strong influence of the Montana Chiropractic Association (MCA) — an affiliate of the American Chiropractic Association — have stirred deep concerns among many within and outside the chiropractic community.
The Montana Chiropractic Board, with key figures like Marcus Nynas, Dustin Rising, Rick Forrette, and Richard Murak, all of whom have notable ties to the MCA, are pushing for changes that would grant the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) and the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) unprecedented power. Such a shift would create a monopolistic hold over the licensing of chiropractors in the state, stifling competition and hindering the diversity and quality of chiropractic care available to Montanans.
While every individual and entity has the right to advocate for their interests, it's concerning when those in regulatory positions, especially with clear affiliations to private trade associations, push changes that would limit choices for Montanans and restrain trade. Such actions raise questions about impartiality and the ethical and legal considerations of those entrusted to protect the public interest - especially in light of the US Supreme Court decision in North Carolina Bd. of Dental Examiners v. FTC.
It's vital to remember that monopolistic practices are fundamentally un-American. They undermine the very essence of free-market principles, limit choices, stifle innovation, and often result in increased costs for consumers. As the Governor of Montana, your dedication to preserving the rights and interests of its citizens is commendable. The activities of the Montana Chiropractic Board, as they currently stand, seem contrary to these values and can be viewed as an affront to the citizens of Montana.
I urge you, Governor Gianforte, to investigate these proposed changes and the potential conflicts of interest within the Montana Chiropractic Board. Let us ensure that the chiropractic landscape in Montana remains diverse, competitive, and in service to the best interests of its citizens.
Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter, and for your continued service to the people of Montana.
Sincerely,
Matthew McCoy DC, MPH
drmatthewmccoy@gmail.com
