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.
Recent laws in New Jersey and California represent a disturbing trend that will negatively impact a practice’s ability to collect monies from patients, as well as expose them to significant penalties if the practice does not follow the mandatory guidelines to a T. Please be aware that a similar law may be coming to your state. The time to act is before the law is passed.
With estimates showing over 30 million Americans affected by peripheral neuropathy – and a significant portion underdiagnosed – it’s increasingly likely that chiropractors are already treating these patients. What’s missing is structured recognition, comprehensive management and targeted tools to slow progression, improve function and support systemic health.
Each year, ICD-10-CM is updated on Oct. 1. For 2026, there are 74,179 total codes, with 487 additions, 28 deletions and 38 revisions. Code changes are based on date of service, not the claim submission date. Services performed on/after Oct. 1 must use the new codes. While no changes affect the common spinal or extraspinal codes most frequently used by DCs, several updates may still affect your claims – particularly for comorbidities, referred pain, or trauma cases.
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