Rep. Bryant Bailey Introduces Menopause Coverage Act as Trump Touts Drug Affordability in Cincinnati

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Ashley Bryant Bailey (D-Cincinnati) will soon introduce the Menopause Coverage Act - the Hormone Optimization Treatment Through Insurance Expansion Act (HOTTIE) - legislation that would require Ohio insurers to cover hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to treat menopause, bringing Ohio's standards in line with the FDA's updated guidance. 

As President Trump prepares to visit Cincinnati and Kentucky on Wednesday to highlight the TrumpRx prescription drug program, this legislation is meant to address the  gap between federal drug affordability promises and the reality facing hundreds of thousands of Ohio women.

This  bill will be introduced in the coming days after  Governor Mike DeWine’s State of the State address where he acknowledged that Ohio still has significant "unfinished business" in removing barriers that prevent Ohioans from reaching their full potential. Access to menopause care is one of those barriers that has been overlooked for far too long.

"Right now, a woman can be told by her doctor that hormone replacement therapy is the right treatment for her menopause and then be told by her insurance company that it's not covered. The FDA already removed the outdated warnings that gave insurers cover to deny this care to women. My bill closes that gap.

Nearly 800,000 Ohio women between the ages of 45 and 60 are currently in the workforce - teachers, nurses, small business owners, and community leaders. According to a 2023 Mayo Clinic study, untreated menopause symptoms cost the U.S. economy $1.8 billion in lost productivity annually. Four in five women experience significant menopausal symptoms. Yet, Ohio has no insurance standards specifically addressing menopause diagnosis or treatment, leaving many women to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket or go without care entirely.

While the governor's address highlighted Ohio's economic growth and workforce expansion, policies affecting working women's health have not kept pace with those priorities.

Ohio talks a lot about workforce participation. But if we are serious about keeping experienced women in the workforce, we also have to address the health realities they face.

This week, President Trump will be in Cincinnati at a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility touting his plan to make prescription drugs more affordable for Americans. I have a bill sitting at the Statehouse that would do exactly that for the hundreds of thousands of Ohio women who are paying out of pocket - or going without - because their insurer won't cover HRT for menopause that the federal government has already determined is safe,” said Rep. Bryant Bailey.

The visit highlights the disconnect Rep. Bryant Bailey's bill seeks to address. While the federal government has taken significant steps to modernize guidance on menopause treatment, including the FDA's February 2026 removal of longstanding black box warnings on hormone therapy, Ohio has yet to update its insurance policies to reflect that progress.

"The federal government has already taken an important step," added Rep. Bryant Bailey. "Now it's time for Ohio to take a serious look at how women access menopause care in our state and make sure our policies reflect current science."

The Menopause Coverage Act provides one clear path forward by ensuring coverage of FDA-approved treatments recommended by physicians. Rep. Bryant Bailey is committed to working with colleagues on additional approaches that improve access, transparency, and affordability for women navigating menopause care.

"We should be able to agree on one thing: women shouldn't be left in the dark about their coverage or forced to pay thousands out of pocket for treatments their doctors recommend," continued Rep. Bryant Bailey. "Whether through coverage standards, transparency, or other practical solutions, Ohio has an opportunity to lead here."

Rep. Bryant Bailey is calling on legislators from both parties to co-sponsor the bill, noting that the policy builds on recent federal action and aligns with broader efforts to make prescription treatments more affordable.

"This isn't a Democratic ask or a Republican ask," said Rep. Bryant Bailey. "It's an Ohio ask. Women in this state are going to work every day, contributing to our economy and raising families. They deserve access to the menopause care their doctors recommend at a price they can actually afford."

The Menopause Coverage Act would:

• Require state-regulated health plans to cover FDA-approved hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for women in menopause;
• Extend coverage to Ohio Medicaid recipients;
• Prohibit insurers from classifying menopause treatment as cosmetic or elective;
• Ensure cost-sharing cannot exceed that of other standard medical benefits; and
• Preserve physician authority to prescribe the menopause treatment that is right for each patient.

"Ohio women aren't asking for anything new," concluded Rep. Bryant Bailey. "They're asking for access to menopause treatments the federal government has already recognized as safe and effective. Washington has acted. Now it's time for Ohio to take the next step."

Rep. Bryant Bailey looks forward to working with colleagues, physicians, and stakeholders to ensure Ohio women have clearer, more affordable pathways to menopause