Overview
- Berry told The Cut she never heard from Gavin Newsom after his December pledge to “reconcile” following his veto of the Menopause Care Equity Act.
- Hours after her comments published, Newsom’s office released a budget trailer proposal to expand menopause care statewide.
- The plan would require certain health plans, including Medi-Cal, to cover FDA-approved treatments, add screening for those 40 and older, fund physician training incentives, and spend $3 million on public awareness.
- Newsom continues to defend his veto as preventing an overly broad mandate that could raise premiums, and a spokesperson called Berry’s latest remarks “very unfortunate.”
- Some Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups praised the new proposal, while Berry, who has tied the issue to Newsom’s 2028 prospects, maintains he has devalued women and once said he “probably should not be our next president.”