Contributor: California can be a leader by taking menopause policy seriously

Assembly Bill 432 would require insurance coverage for menopause treatments after Gov. Newsom vetoed similar legislation last year.

Fifteen states have introduced menopause bills this summer, creating what experts call a “national movement” for better treatment access.

The debate reflects larger questions about women’s healthcare rights and California’s potential leadership role on reproductive health issues.

Among the many audiences Gov. Gavin Newsom has provoked lately, one cohort is particularly fired up: menopausal women. I know I felt a rush of adrenaline (or perhaps it was a hot flash?) when I saw actor Halle Berry take to Instagram this week to demand the governor make menopause a public policy priority.

From Hollywood to Capitol Hill , menopause continues to be