House approves bills to expand physician continuing education on menopause

The Michigan House passed a bipartisan package (House Bills 4790 and 4791) aimed at expanding physician continuing education on menopause.

Representative Sekclaw recounted a personal experience and emphasized the need for physicians to be better prepared to manage menopause symptoms, telling the chamber, "I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31," and describing how menopause-related care informed her view of the bills. Sekclaw said the measures open a conversation on an understudied area of medicine.

Representative Thompson, who also spoke in favor, described the bills as a non-mandatory, low-cost approach that would require the Board of Medicine to ensure physicians can access continuing education on menopause. "To be clear, Madam Speaker, this is not a mandate. It's a small cost-free step in a positive direction," Thompson said.

On the record, HB4790 passed by roll call, 100 I votes to 9 N votes; HB4791 was later approved by the same tally. The House ordered immediate effect for both measures.

Sponsors said the bills respond to gaps in medical training: speakers cited statistics about limited menopause education in medical schools and residency programs and noted a small number of physicians in Michigan identified as menopause practitioners.