A significant movement is emerging across the United States to enhance menopause care, with over a dozen states considering new legislation. This legislative push aims to improve clinician training and ensure comprehensive insurance coverage for menopause treatment. Advocates believe these changes are essential for increasing access to care and reducing the likelihood that menopause symptoms will be overlooked by healthcare providers.
According to data compiled by Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, executive director of the Birnbaum Women’s Leadership Center at New York University School of Law, at least two dozen bills have been introduced this year across 15 states. The majority focus on insurance coverage for menopause care, educational initiatives, and clinician training. As Dr. Mary Claire Haver, an ob/gyn and author of “The New Menopause,” points out, there is a persistent “lack of standardized treatment protocols” and insufficient insurance coverage for effective therapies like hormone replacement.
Menopause marks a natural phase of aging when a woman has not had a menstrual period for at least 12 consecutive months, primarily due to declining reproductive hormones. This transition can lead to various uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes. In the United States, an estimated 1.3 million women enter menopause each year, with most experiencing symptoms.
For many years, menopause has been largely ignored in clinical research and healthcare policy, primarily affecting women in midlife—a demographic often undervalued in medical contexts. Haver notes that women in this age group are increasingly vocal about their needs, leveraging social media and other platforms to demand better care. She asserts, “We’re also seeing more female physicians, researchers, and public figures normalize the conversation around menopause, which is finally translating into policy discussions and workplace changes.”
As the legislative session for 2025 concludes in many states, several recently introduced menopause bills may be considered in the upcoming year. Weiss-Wolf expresses optimism, stating that the current dialogue surrounding menopause represents a significant step forward. “This only sets us up for what I hope will be a really impactful, successful state legislative session in 2026,” she says.
The momentum behind this movement is palpable. Two bills introduced in March focus on raising awareness about menopause. One of these, passed in Illinois in May, designates October 12-18 as Menopause Awareness Week. A Nevada bill aiming to declare October as Menopause Awareness Month was vetoed by the governor in June.
Legislation aimed at enhancing clinician training has emerged in states like California and New Jersey. In California, a bill would require assessments of physicians’ knowledge regarding menopause diagnosis and treatment. Meanwhile, New Jersey’s legislation would allow up to three credits of continuing medical education on menopause for providers renewing their licenses.
Additionally, five bills concerning insurance coverage for menopause care have been introduced this year, with one in New Jersey already passing the Assembly and another in Oregon awaiting the governor’s signature. California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan underscores the national nature of this movement, noting that similar initiatives have been introduced in states like Washington, Louisiana, and Oregon.
Bauer-Kahan’s own experience with perimenopausal symptoms, coupled with dismissive responses from healthcare providers, prompted her to introduce Assembly Bill 432, which mandates coverage for menopause evaluation and treatment options. She emphasizes the need for healthcare systems to prioritize the health of women as they age: “Women are over half the population, and yet our healthcare system fails to provide us with the care we need as we age.”
Recently, Rhode Island became the first state to enact workplace protections for menopausal women, with more states exploring similar legislation. Proposed laws in New York and New Jersey aim to prevent discrimination based on menopause and require employers to accommodate employees experiencing symptoms.
The renewed focus on menopause care follows more than two decades of silence on the subject, particularly after the early termination of the national Women’s Health Initiative study in 2002. This study linked hormone therapy for menopause to an increased risk of breast cancer, which led many women to discontinue hormone therapy and resulted in a significant gap in training and research.
Dr. Sharon Malone, chief medical adviser at Alloy Women’s Health, reflects on the long-lasting impact of the study, noting that it led to a generation of healthcare providers who were not adequately trained to address menopause. She asserts that the landscape of menopause care is gradually evolving: “We are still digging ourselves out of a hole of the past 23 years.”
As awareness of menopause increases, the US Food and Drug Administration plans to hold a public discussion next week about menopause and hormone replacement therapy. This panel will include FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Principal Deputy Commissioner Dr. Sara Brenner, who are expected to focus on comprehensive care solutions.
The current legislative efforts highlight an urgent need not only for increased awareness and education regarding menopause but also for comprehensive insurance coverage for treatment. Dr. Monica Christmas, associate professor at the University of Chicago, emphasizes that while provider education is crucial, equitable access to care must be prioritized. “The policy focus needs to be on ensuring comprehensive and equitable access to medical care,” she states.
As discussions surrounding menopause continue to gain traction, the hope is that these legislative efforts will ultimately lead to improved support and resources for millions of women navigating this significant life transition.
