New Executive Order Expands Women’s Health Research

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President Joe Biden signed an executive order on March 18, 2024, promoting women's health research, calling for a $12 billion investment in a Fund for Women's Health Research at the National Institutes of Health. This initiative aligns with Women's History Month celebrations and aims to prioritize women's health in federal research and stimulate new studies, including women's midlife health.

The executive order outlines the following actions that various agencies will carry out:

• Increase investments in women's health research to address gaps across the lifespan, including the impact of perimenopause and menopause on heart, brain, and bone health
• Drive innovation in women's health by scaling tools, products, and platforms to enhance outcomes
• Enhance women's health data collection and analysis to close access gaps and discover research opportunities
• Enhance support for women's health research in service members and veterans
• Enhance women's health through preventive care, maternal health, and menopause

Biden's executive order mandates agencies to report their annual investments in women's health research following the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research and a $100 million commitment by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.

Employer Takeaway

More employers are now focusing on women’s health, family-building benefits, menopause, and midlife health to meet the diverse needs of today's workforce. Download the bulletin for more details.