A bill to add limited prescription rights to the Colorado chiropractic practice act has died in legislative committee without testimony. State Senator Marilyn Musgrave, sponsor of the controversial measure, cited "disagreement within the profession" as the reason for the bill's demise.
The pro-prescription rights group, the Colorado Chiropractic Society, had lobbied to pass the bill several months prior to the beginning of the 1998 legislative session.
The Colorado Chiropractic Association (CCA), headed by executive director Darcy McKinstry, has opposed prescription rights for DCs in Colorado.
This was the second try for prescription rights in Colorado. The first attempt was in 1997. That bill died in its first legislative committee following testimony by the CCA and the Colorado Medical Society, among others. Dr. Lester Lamb of Western States testified for the bill in 1997.
Over the last five years, the Colorado Chiropractic Association has conducted a number of surveys to poll the state's DCs on the prescription issue. The results have been consistent: two-thirds have opposed including prescription rights to the practice act.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
