SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE, No. 2693

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 9, 2024

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably a Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 2693.

This substitute establishes an Interagency Council on Menopause in the Department of Health (DOH) to promote and support access to best practice health care for a person through the person’s menopause transition and post-reproductive years, enabling the person to achieve optimal health and well-being.

     Under the provisions of the substitute, the interagency council is to consist of 15 members as follows:  1) the Director of the Office of Women’s Health in the DOH, the Assistant Commissioner of Family Health Services in the DOH, and the Director of the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, or their designees, who will serve ex officio; and 2) 12 public members appointed by the Governor.  The purpose of the interagency council includes disseminating evidence-based knowledge concerning perimenopause and menopause to health care professionals; facilitating collaboration and information-exchange between the applicable parties; developing and providing State-supported evidence-based treatment services related to perimenopause, menopause, and post-reproductive health; increasing awareness and understanding of perimenopause and menopause; developing and establishing a plan to disseminate information about new treatment options, research findings, and ways in which a person experiencing perimenopause or menopause can access services in the State; and making policy recommendations to the Legislature.

     The substitute requires the Commissioner of Health to report to the Governor and the Legislature, no later than 18 months after the effective date of substitute, and annually thereafter, on the activities and accomplishments of the interagency council and its findings and recommendations on issues relating to the quality of, and access to, treatment and services for persons experiencing perimenopause or menopause in this State.

     This substitute also requires menopause information to be distributed under certain circumstances.  Under the substitute, commencing 180 days following the substitute’s effective date, a licensed health care professional who performs an annual physical examination on a female patient:  1) who is between the ages of 35 and 39 is to provide the female patient evidence-based information on premature menopause, early menopause, and primary ovarian insufficiency; and 2) who is 40 years of age or older is to provide the female patient evidence-based information on perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. 

     The substitute provides that, within 90 days following the substitute’s effective date, the DOH is to prepare and publish on its Internet website the necessary pamphlets containing information on menopause in order to effectuate the purposes of the substitute regarding the distribution of evidence-based information by certain licensed health care professionals.  The substitute also permits a health care professional to fulfill this provisions of the substitute using information prepared and published by another recognized healthcare entity or organization that provides evidence-based information on this subject.