Turning Advocacy Into Action: The ongoing fight for Menopause Policy in California
Not long ago, menopause was barely mentioned in the State Capitol. This year it's a priority in California's budget.
Join Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and nationally recognized menopause law and policy expert Jennifer Weiss-Wolf for an evening conversation about how menopause went from private conversations to public policy, and what comes next.
Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan has led California's push for better menopause care, including the Menopause Care Equity Act (AB 432). Many of its goals are now law through the 2026 state budget, which:
- Requires health plans to cover medically necessary, FDA-approved treatments for perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause, both hormonal and nonhormonal
- Sets new standards for insurers
- Creates enhanced continuing-education credit for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who complete menopause training, starting July 2027
- Funds statewide public awareness, provider training and outreach through the UC system
Jennifer Weiss-Wolf is executive director of the Birnbaum Women's Leadership Center at NYU Law and a leading voice on gender, health and the law. Dubbed the "architect" of the national campaign to end the tampon tax, she has advised policymakers from the White House to state legislatures and is the author of A Citizen's Guide to Menopause Advocacy.
Rebecca and Jennifer will talk about what California's new menopause provisions mean for patients, from insurance coverage for treatment to better-trained providers. They'll also cover how years of advocacy made it happen, and what's next for menopause policy in California and nationally. Bring your questions and a friend!
