Protecting Women by Prioritizing Menopause and Osteoporosis Policies
Rep. Melissa Shusterman May 11, 2026 | 9:30 AM
National Women’s Health Week occurs every year during the week following Mother’s Day. And it’s not a coincidence that May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month. My call to action is that we honor and protect women by elevating the related health topics of menopause and osteoporosis. Women represent 51% of our population and it is past time that we spend a proportionate amount of effort on policies and initiatives that benefit women during their full lifespan.
According to the National Menopause Foundation, approximately 1.3 million women enter menopause each year in the U.S. and will likely spend one-third to one-half of their lives postmenopausal. In addition to perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms, loss of estrogen during women’s midlife leads to greater risk of osteoporosis and a host of other costly conditions.
1 in 2 women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
30% of older women who suffer a hip fracture will die within 12 months.
The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation reports that over 10 million Americans, 70% of them women, suffer from osteoporosis, a chronic disease that leads to thinning bones and over 2 million costly and debilitating fractures every year. Additionally, osteoporosis costs the nation over $54 billion a year, including growing Medicaid costs to states for the nursing home care required by many of those who suffer fractures.
In Pennsylvania, I’m working to lead the effort to address these important public health issues alongside my colleagues in the General Assembly. Amid ongoing attempts at the federal level to cut funding and support for women’s health initiatives, I believe our Commonwealth must fill the gap by advancing policies that benefit and protect women.
In the PA House of Representatives, I’ve introduced legislation on menopause and osteoporosis:
- HR287 – Would create a study and recommendations for actions and educational materials the Commonwealth may implement to support women in PA, as well as workplace policies to support Commonwealth employees regarding perimenopause and menopause symptoms/side effects.
- HB1827 – Would require private insurance and Medicaid coverage for preventative measures, testing, and treatments for osteoporosis, beginning at the onset of menopause.
- HR292 – Would create a study on menopause continuing medical education requirements for medical professionals.
- Memo – Soon, I will introduce a bill for insurance coverage of vaginal estrogen and the prevention of UTIs.
For far too long, women’s health issues have sat on the back burner or worse. Not only are women bearing the brunt of this with neglected preventative healthcare, but so are the taxpayers through public health policies that end up costing our state government more than necessary. Preventative care saves lives and saves money.
I will continue to urge my colleagues to join me in enacting commonsense healthcare policies that will protect women’s health while being better stewards of taxpayer funds. All of this is going to help women in the long run, which means mothers are happier, women are happier and partners are happier; and that makes us healthier as a society.