Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]
- Committees
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (primary)
- Last action
- May 12, 2026
Bottom line
The bill establishes a comprehensive federal framework to address long-standing gaps in menopause care, research, and education, with significant authorized funding for new programs and initiatives.
What it actually does
This bill directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to expand research, public health promotion, awareness campaigns, and professional training related to menopause and mid-life women's health. It authorizes grants for research, early detection, care coordination, and the establishment of Centers of Excellence, aiming to improve care, address health disparities, and enhance public and professional understanding of menopausal symptoms and related chronic conditions.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this legislation is crucial for addressing a significant, yet often overlooked, area of women's health. They contend that improved research, education, and access to care for menopause will lead to better health outcomes for millions of women, reduce health disparities, and empower both patients and healthcare providers with evidence-based information and treatment options. Supporters emphasize the need to destigmatize menopause and integrate its care into broader public health strategies.
Opponents contend
Opponents, if any, might raise concerns about the scope and cost of new federal programs, suggesting that existing agencies could reallocate resources to address these issues without creating new mandates or dedicated funding streams. Some might argue that the bill's broad approach could lead to inefficiencies or duplicate efforts, or that specific provisions might overstep federal involvement in healthcare delivery. However, no specific organized opposition to this type of women's health initiative is publicly documented at this time.
The bill is concise and well-structured, allowing an informed reader to grasp its core provisions and implications within a reasonable timeframe.
Sec. 2(a), adding Sec. 404P to the Public Health Service Act
Expanded NIH Research on Menopause and Mid-Life Women's Health
This provision directs the Director of NIH, through the Office of Research on Women's Health, to coordinate and expand research activities across all NIH institutes and centers. The research will focus on the impact of perimenopause, menopausal transition, and postmenopausal periods on women's physical, oral, mental, behavioral, and cognitive health, prevention of adverse outcomes, health disparities, and the development of integrated care approaches. It also authorizes grants for biomedical and public health research, clinical and translational research, and testing of evidence-based care models.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that dedicated and coordinated NIH research is essential to close the knowledge gap in menopause care, which has historically been underfunded and understudied. This provision will drive innovation in treatments and diagnostics, ultimately improving the health and quality of life for millions of women.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against expanding medical research, especially in understudied areas. Potential concerns, if any, might relate to the allocation of research funds across various health priorities, but not the principle of conducting such research.
Tradeoffs
The primary tension is ensuring that the expanded research is effectively coordinated across diverse NIH institutes to avoid duplication and maximize impact, while also addressing specific, varied symptoms and conditions.
Sec. 2(b), adding Sec. 310C to the Public Health Service Act
Public Health Research and Data Reporting on Mid-Life Women's Health
This section directs the Secretary of HHS to expand public health research on the severity and duration of menopausal symptoms and related chronic conditions, including mental and behavioral health. It also mandates expanded research on healthcare quality and delivery improvements, including data collection on preventive services and barriers to care. A key component is the establishment of a public dashboard for reporting data on menopausal symptoms and mid-life health outcomes, and research into workplace stressors related to menopause.
Sec. 3, adding Part X, Sec. 399PP to the Public Health Service Act
Public Health Promotion and Prevention Activities
This section mandates the Secretary of HHS to expand public health promotion and prevention activities for menopausal symptoms and chronic conditions. It authorizes grants to eligible entities (state/local/Tribal/territorial public health departments, accredited health education entities) to improve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment, and to support care coordination. It also directs the Secretary to develop recommendations for increasing access to mental and behavioral health and substance use disorder services for women experiencing menopause, and for reducing health disparities in menopause management.
Sec. 4, adding Sec. 399PP-1 to the Public Health Service Act
National Public Health Awareness, Education, and Outreach Program
This provision directs the Secretary of HHS to develop and carry out a national awareness, education, and outreach program on menopausal symptoms, mid-life women's health, and related care. The program will target patients, healthcare providers, first responders, and other stakeholders, disseminating educational materials, identifying risk factors, and addressing barriers to care. It emphasizes culturally appropriate outreach, customization for local public health departments, and prioritization of underserved populations. An online resource website will also be developed and maintained.
Sec. 5, adding Sec. 758 to the Public Health Service Act
Training Programs to Improve Care and Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms
This section authorizes grants to eligible entities, such as accredited schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and hospitals, to develop, establish, or expand training programs. These programs include residency programs, fellowships, and other clinical training for a wide range of health professionals (physicians, dentists, nurses, PAs, pharmacists, social workers) to improve their ability to provide care, treatment, and management services for perimenopause, menopausal symptoms, and related chronic conditions affecting women in mid-life. It also directs the Secretary to expand outreach for these training opportunities.
Sec. 6, adding Sec. 399PP-2 to the Public Health Service Act
Centers of Excellence in Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health
This section authorizes the Secretary of HHS to designate and award grants to eligible entities as Centers of Excellence in Menopause and Mid-Life Women's Health. These Centers will focus on improving professional training resources for healthcare providers, developing and distributing evidence-based resources for providers, patients, and public health departments, and promoting advancements in treatment and prevention of related chronic conditions. The Secretary is directed to ensure equitable geographic distribution, prioritizing entities in health professional shortage areas or serving medically underserved populations.
Expands eligibility for NIH research grants to include Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs).
Sec. 2(a), adding Sec. 404P(a)(3) to the Public Health Service Act
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for defining eligible entities for grant programs, rather than an attempt to obscure the provision.
Case for: Proponents would argue that explicitly including HBCUs and MSIs ensures that research efforts are diverse, culturally competent, and address health disparities that disproportionately affect minority populations, fostering a more equitable research landscape.
Case against: No specific case against this inclusion is typically made. Concerns, if any, might be about ensuring that all eligible institutions, regardless of designation, meet rigorous research standards.
Estimated impact: Likely to increase participation of diverse institutions in menopause research, potentially leading to more inclusive research findings and a more diverse scientific workforce.
Mandates oversight efforts to assess the safety and effectiveness of new treatments and diagnostic tools for menopausal symptoms, including devices that use artificial intelligence, and supports existing activities to enforce privacy protections for patients.
Sec. 3(f)(2) and (3), adding Sec. 399PP(f) to the Public Health Service Act
Why it matters:This is standard practice for including regulatory and oversight functions within a broader program authorization, rather than an attempt to hide the provision.
Case for: Proponents would highlight the importance of ensuring patient safety and data privacy, especially with the rise of new technologies like AI in healthcare. This provision provides necessary federal oversight to protect consumers.
Case against: No specific case against these provisions is typically made. Some technology developers might express concerns about potential regulatory delays for new AI devices, but the principle of safety and privacy is widely supported.
Estimated impact: Ensures that new medical technologies for menopause care are rigorously vetted for safety and effectiveness, and that patient data is protected, impacting the quality and trustworthiness of future treatments.