Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4503
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T19:20:48Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of S. 4503: Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women's Health Act
Purpose
This legislation establishes federal programs to enhance research, public health promotion, education, training, and care coordination for perimenopause, menopause, and mid-life women's health. It aims to address symptoms, chronic conditions, health disparities, and barriers to care through expanded federal activities under the Public Health Service Act.
Key Provisions
- Research Initiatives: Directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to coordinate and expand research on menopause-related symptoms, trajectories, and impacts on physical, mental, behavioral, and cognitive health; authorizes grants for biomedical innovation, clinical research, and evidence-based care approaches.
- Public Health Activities: Creates new sections in the Public Health Service Act for promotion and prevention efforts, including grants for early detection, diagnosis, treatment, care coordination, mental health support, and substance use prevention; establishes a data dashboard for surveillance and outcomes tracking.
- Awareness and Outreach: Mandates a national education program for patients, providers, and stakeholders, including culturally appropriate materials, online resources, and prioritization of rural and underserved areas.
- Training Programs: Authorizes grants to medical, nursing, and related schools for developing training in menopause care, including residencies and continuing education.
- Centers of Excellence: Designates and funds entities to develop and distribute evidence-based resources on menopause management, with emphasis on geographic equity and health professional shortage areas.
- Reporting and Coordination: Requires annual reports to Congress on research progress, disparities, and barriers; mandates interagency coordination across federal departments.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This act amends the Public Health Service Act by adding new sections (e.g., 404P, 310C, 399PP, 399PP-1, 399PP-2, and 758) to establish dedicated programs for menopause research, public health promotion, awareness, training, and centers of excellence. It introduces new authorization of appropriations totaling $25 million annually for research (fiscal years 2027–2031), $10 million each for public health promotion, awareness, and training, and such sums as necessary for centers and reporting.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Expands responsibilities for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), NIH, and related offices in research coordination, grant administration, data collection, and interagency efforts; may increase oversight for privacy protections and treatment safety.
- Citizens: Improves access to care, education, and preventive services for mid-life women, particularly those in rural or underserved areas facing disparities; supports better management of symptoms like vasomotor issues, osteoporosis, mental health conditions, and chronic diseases.
- International Relations: No direct provisions or impacts identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Mid-life women experiencing perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopausal symptoms and related conditions.
- Health care providers, including physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and trainees.
- Research institutions, academic centers, hospitals, and public health departments (state, local, Tribal, territorial).
- Community organizations, certified behavioral health clinics, and minority-serving institutions.
- Federal agencies within HHS and coordination partners such as the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The legislation operates within Congress's authority to fund public health programs under the Commerce Clause and general welfare powers, with no apparent constitutional conflicts. It emphasizes health equity, rural-urban disparities, and integrated care models, potentially influencing future policy on women's health research funding and provider training standards. Annual reporting requirements enhance congressional oversight of implementation and outcomes.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Advancing Menopause Care and Mid-Life Women’s Health Act — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (24 pages)