Reps. Bryant Bailey, Somani Introduce the Ohio Menopause and Hormone Therapy Act (H.O.T.T.I.E Act)

COLUMBUS – State Reps. Ashley Bryant Bailey (D-Cincinnati) and Anita Somani (D-Dublin) Tuesday introduced their new bill, the Ohio Menopause and Hormone Therapy Act, also known as the Hormone Optimization Treatment Through Insurance Expansion (H.O.T.T.I.E.) Act. This bill would align Ohio's insurance standards with updated federal guidance and current clinical evidence regarding menopausal hormone therapy. It expands access to care and ensures patients can work with their doctors to make informed, individualized decisions about their health, without worrying about unaffordable out-of-pocket costs.

"Nearly 800,000 Ohio women between 45 and 60 are in this workforce right now - and one in four has considered leaving their job because of untreated menopause symptoms. That is a workforce crisis hiding in plain sight, costing Ohio $1.8B in lost productivity every single year. Menopause is a natural stage of life, and no woman should have to suffer through it in silence because her insurer labels her care 'cosmetic' or 'elective' to deny it. Women spend an average of seven to ten years in this transition- they deserve the same access to care that covers every other stage of life. The FDA has cleared hormone replacement therapy as safe and effective. Ohio hasn't caught up. This bill closes that gap by putting the doctor back in charge, making menopause care accessible and more affordable, and standing up for the women who hold this state together," said Rep. Bryant Bailey.

“Federal guidelines have been updated to include hormone therapy as a safe and viable treatment option for menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. These treatment options have been shown through decades of clinical research to be especially effective at reducing hot flashes, urogenital symptoms, and bone density loss. Hormone Therapy can greatly improve a woman's quality of life during this stage of life. This care is absolutely critical, and it is important that women get insurance coverage to easily access it. Over and over again, we have seen male health get prioritized over women's health, and it is time for this to end. Our bill ensures that Ohio's guidelines mirror federal guidelines and protects healthcare access for women as they age," said Rep. Somani. 

HB 767 is awaiting a House committee referral. 

To watch the full press conference, please visit here.