Finally, menopause legislation takes center stage

In what Katie Couric Media calls “unprecedented,” 19 states have introduced almost three dozen bills to improve menopause care and treatment. Eight are now law. The site notes that four states now mandate insurance coverage for menopause treatments; California allows providers to earn certification for menopause education; Rhode Island has adopted workplace protection on the basis of menopause; and Illinois even created an annual Menopause Awareness Week. “And so, we kick off the new year with a mighty impressive track record. Can we expect more of the same in 2026?” author Jennifer Weiss-Wolf asks. “My prediction is a resounding yes. This is only the beginning of a long overdue and much deeper series of demands.”