Michigan committee hears bipartisan bills to add menopause to physician continuing education

Michigan House Health Policy Committee members heard testimony on House Bills 47‑90 and 47‑91, a bipartisan package that would direct the Michigan Board of Medicine to approve continuing-education courses on menopause and encourage physicians and medical residents to take them.

The bills, introduced to the committee by Vice Chair Thompson and Representative Steckloff, were presented as a non‑budgetary measure aimed at improving clinicians’ recognition and treatment of menopause and perimenopause symptoms.

Supporters told the committee that many clinicians lack training on menopause and that patients frequently do not have their symptoms documented, which can leave women without appropriate treatment options. Vice Chair Thompson said, “Menopause has been a mystery for too many women for too long,” and argued the bills would put menopause “on the menu” of continuing-education choices physicians can select to renew licenses.

Representative Steckloff, a co‑sponsor, said the bills would improve health care for women by allowing education for physicians and residents and stressed the change would place no new financial burden on the state because continuing-education credits are already required for license renewal. “This puts no financial burden on the state, and it just creates those educational opportunities, not financial mandates,” Steckloff said.

During questions, members pressed for detail about models from other states and limits of the bills. Thompson said she was aware “a few states” have related activity but did not have a list available at the hearing; she offered to provide examples later. Representative Neely asked whether insurance coverage for menopause care would be affected; sponsors stated these bills concern continuing education only and do not change insurance coverage rules.

Committee members described the problem as multi‑faceted: speakers cited data that only 44 percent of women experiencing menopause symptoms raise them with a physician, a study finding that 7 percent of medical residents feel prepared to manage menopause, and that fewer than a quarter of women with serious symptoms have those symptoms documented in medical records. Witnesses and members also emphasized that menopause and perimenopause vary by individual and can begin earlier than the average age (the panel noted the average age is about 51 but that some people experience symptoms much earlier).

No committee vote on House Bills 47‑90 or 47‑91 was recorded in the transcript. Committee members said the testimony would inform further discussion.

Those who spoke on the record about the bills at the hearing included Vice Chair Thompson (bill co‑sponsor) and Representative Steckloff (co‑sponsor), and multiple committee members who asked questions and offered support. A written card in support was noted from Graham Filler of McKelvey Merchant; he did not speak at the table.

The bills, as described at the hearing, would ask the Michigan Board of Medicine to approve a continuing-education course on menopause and to encourage—but not mandate—physicians and residents to take such training. The sponsors said the intent is to improve recognition of menopause and perimenopause symptoms and to make treatment options more widely known to patients.

Provenance: Topic introduced when the chair announced “we'll hear testimony in House Bill 47 90 and 91 introduced by Vice Chair Thompson and representative Steckloff” and concluded when committee staff announced a support card and moved to the next bill. Evidence excerpts from the hearing transcript are on file with the committee clerk.