Despite overwhelming bipartisan support, AB 432 vetoed during Menopause Awareness Month
[ Sacramento, CA ]– Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) issued the following statement after Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed AB 432, the Menopause Care Equity Act, despite the bill's near-unanimous passage through the Legislature:
"I am deeply disappointed that Governor Newsom has chosen to veto AB 432 during Menopause Awareness Month, a missed opportunity to stand with the millions of California women navigating menopause without adequate care or support.
This bill addressed a real healthcare crisis: up to 70% of women seeking menopause care don't receive the treatment they need, despite symptoms that significantly impact their quality of life, careers, and overall wellbeing. AB 432 would have ensured insurance coverage for evidence-based treatments and incentivized physician training: common-sense solutions supported by medical experts, women's health advocates, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
The Legislature spoke loudly and clearly, passing this bill 70-1 in the Assembly and 39-0 in the Senate. This overwhelming bipartisan support reflects what Californians know: women's health at every stage of life must be a priority, not an afterthought.
While I respect the Governor's decision-making process, I fundamentally disagree with this outcome. Women deserve better than being dismissed or told to simply endure this transition. We will continue fighting to ensure California leads on women's health equity, because this issue isn't going away, and neither are we."
Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan vowed to continue working with stakeholders, advocates, and the medical community to address this critical gap in women's healthcare.
