AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 9, 2025
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 10, 2025
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 4, 2025
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
96
Introduced by Assembly Member Papan
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Pellerin)
January 30, 2025
An act to add Section 2425.5 to the Business and Professions Code, relating to healing arts. Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 128570) to Part 3 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code, relating to public health.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
Existing law establishes the Department of Health Care Access and Information to oversee and administer various health programs and to collect health data. Existing law establishes the Medical Board of California and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California for the licensure and regulation of physicians and surgeons and osteopathic physicians and surgeons. Existing law requires the boards to adopt and administer standards, including for the continuing education of those licensees.
This bill would require the department to work with the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and state higher education entities to assess, among other things, physicians and surgeons’ education and training, as specified, relating to menopause diagnosis and treatment. The bill would require the department to prepare a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027, that, among other things, identifies gaps in medical education and training related to menopause and in menopause diagnosis and management practices among physicians and surgeons.
This bill would require the Medical Board of California and the Osteopathic Medical Board of California to develop and administer to a licensed physician and surgeon as part of the license renewal process certain menopause training surveys. The bill would require the boards to determine the format of the surveys, which would be conducted anonymously, as prescribed. The bill would prohibit the boards from denying an application for license renewal solely on the basis that the applicant failed to complete a survey.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 128570) is added to Part 3 of Division 107 of the Health and Safety Code, to read:
Chapter 6. Menopause
128570.
(a) The Department of Health Care Access and Information shall work with the Medical Board of California, the Osteopathic Medical Board of California, and state higher education entities to assess both of the following:
(1) Physicians and surgeons’ education and training regarding menopause diagnosis and management.
(2) Trends in practice patterns regarding menopause diagnosis and treatment by specialty, region, sex, race or ethnicity, medical practice setting, and experience.
(b) (1) The Department of Health Care Access and Information shall prepare a report to the Legislature on or before January 1, 2027, that does both of the following:
(A) Identifies gaps in medical education and training related to menopause and in menopause diagnosis and management practices among physicians and surgeons.
(B) Recommends state policy needed to improve menopause-related education and training and to improve health outcomes for people who experience menopause.
(2) The report shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
Section 2425.5 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
2425.5.
(a) The board shall develop and administer to a licensed physician and surgeon as part of the license renewal process the following menopause training surveys:
(1) An initial survey that includes, but is not limited to, questions concerning the licensed physician and surgeon’s training relating to menopause.
(2) Subsequent surveys that include, but are not limited to, the licensed physician and surgeon’s training relating to menopause received since the licensed physician and surgeon submitted the initial survey described in paragraph (1).
(b) The purpose of the surveys shall be for the board to assess the extent of training licensed physicians and surgeons have received regarding menopause, menopause symptoms, and the relevant management options available for menopause.
(c) The board shall determine the format of the surveys, which shall be conducted anonymously, and may develop regulations as necessary to administer this section.
(d) The board shall not deny an application for license renewal solely on the basis that the applicant failed to complete a survey on menopause, as provided in this section.