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Senate advances Menopause Equity Act after lengthy testimony; author to accept amendments
Summary
Assemblymember Bauer‑Kahan told the committee AB 432 would require continuing‑education training on menopause for physicians; supporters argued menopause is a long‑standing, under‑taught clinical area and urged incentives for CME credit; medical organizations expressed procedural and scope concerns and the author agreed to amendments.
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer‑Kahan presented AB 432, the Menopause Equity Act, to the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee. She said the bill responds to a gap in medical training and clinical practice that leaves many perimenopausal and menopausal people undiagnosed and undertreated. The bill, in the version discussed, would require doctors to complete up to four hours of approved menopause education over a multi‑year period and would provide incentives (double CME credit) for clinicians who opt into more substantial courses.
Researchers and clinicians testified in support. Emily Jacobs, director of a women’s brain health initiative, testified that ovarian hormones affect many organ systems and called menopause a neurological and metabolic transition that requires updated provider training. OB‑GYN Dr. Judy Mikasich, a certified menopause practitioner, described clinical gaps: she said 73% of symptomatic women do not receive treatment and that many residency programs do not adequately cover midlife care.
Opposition and concerns came from the California Medical Association, the Medical Board of California, the American College of OB‑GYN and other specialty groups. Their objections centered on a mandatory CME requirement that could capture many physicians who do not treat menopause in their practice, raise enforcement and cost issues and duplicate board or certifying‑board CME processes. Committee members and witnesses negotiated language: the chair and the author described an agreement in principle to convert the mandate into an incentives‑based approach (double credit) and to coordinate with accrediting bodies and residency curricula. Several groups said they would drop opposition if committee amendments were adopted. The committee recorded a vote to pass AB 432 to Senate Health; the transcript records the committee’s intent to work with assembly committees and the Health Committee on final language.
