Papan Legislation to Enhance Physician Training on Menopause Approved by Assembly Committee on Business & Professions

Sacramento, CA – Legislation authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan Assemblymember Diane Papan aimed at addressing gaps in menopause education was approved by the Assembly Committee on Business & Professions. The legislation, Assembly Bill 360 (AB 360), seeks to address the significant gap in medical training concerning menopause by ensuring that healthcare providers are better equipped to diagnose and treat this natural phase in a woman's life.

Menopause, marking the end of a woman's menstrual cycles, affects approximately 51% of the population as every woman will eventually experience menopause. Despite the near universality of women’s experience, a survey revealed that only 20.8% of medical residents felt their program had formal menopause education. This lack of training often leads to misdiagnoses, with symptoms being mistaken for conditions such as depression or chronic fatigue syndrome. 

"Menopause is a significant health transition that every woman will experience, yet our medical community often lacks the necessary training to support women through this phase," said Assemblymember Papan. "AB 360 is a crucial step toward equipping our healthcare providers with the knowledge they need to offer effective and compassionate care."

AB 360 requires an assessment of physicians' training on menopause and a review of current treatment of menopause. The Department of Health Care Access will issue their findings back to the Legislature as well as report recommendations for state policies that can enhance menopause-related training for physicians. The bill will bridge the knowledge gap, ensuring that physicians can provide accurate diagnoses and effective treatments for menopausal symptoms.

"By implementing this requirement, we are not only improving healthcare outcomes for women but also fostering a more informed and empathetic medical community," said Papan.

Assembly Bill 360 will be heard in the Assembly Committee on Appropriations in the coming weeks. 

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