Menopause.

Assembly Member Bauer-Kahan's menopause care legislation establishes new requirements for medical education and insurance coverage of menopause-related treatments in California. The bill creates incentives for physicians to pursue specialized education by offering double continuing medical education credits for courses in perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopausal care, up to eight total credit hours.

Health care service plans and insurers must expand their prescription drug coverage to include FDA-approved treatments for menopause symptoms beginning January 2026. The required coverage encompasses hormone therapy, nonhormonal medications, treatments for genitourinary syndrome, and osteoporosis prevention medications across multiple formulations and administration methods. Plans must provide annual clinical care recommendations for hormone therapy to contracted primary care providers who treat patients with menopause.

The legislation removes the Medical Board of California's existing requirement to consider menopausal health courses in continuing education while maintaining other specialized education priorities like pain management, elder abuse detection, and end-of-life care. Coverage provisions apply equally to both traditional health plans and insurance policies, with explicit protections against discrimination based on gender expression or identity. The bill takes effect through a phased approach, with insurance mandates beginning January 2026 and education credits starting July 2026.