The National Eczema Association (NEA) will hold its first-ever in-person Eczema Policy Summit and Congressional Briefing in Washington, DC during Eczema Awareness Month (EAM).
For the Congressional Briefing, slated to be held October 19–21 in Washington, DC, NEA will bring together eight NEA Advocacy Ambassadors from across the country, along with organizational leaders, to meet with members of Congress and advocate for federal policy priorities that improve care for eczema patients.
The Congressional Briefing, titled “Tackling Step Therapy, Treatment Delays, and Research Funding,” takes place Tuesday, October 21, from 12:00–1:00 PM. Speakers include Kristin Belleson, NEA President & CEO; Wendy Smith Begolka, NEA Chief Program and Mission Officer; and Leigh Antoinette Medina, eczema patient and NEA Advocacy Ambassador from Hawaii. The briefing will focus on the release of new and updated data acquired through recent NEA surveys, which reinforce an established need for legislative and regulatory solutions, including advancing federal policies that:
- Reform step therapy and prior authorization burdens.
- Ensure access to effective prescription treatments.
- Increase federal research funding to advance better therapies and improve long-term outcomes.
The research findings will expand insights gained from NEA’s 2021 survey of eczema patients, which found that nearly 30% of prescription coverage denials are due to step therapy requirements, and over 50% of delays are caused by prior authorization. Since then, the eczema treatment landscape has continued to significantly grow and evolve, while the burden of treatment access barriers is widespread and growing as well.
More on the 2025 EAM Campaign
The 2025 campaign, themed #UnhideEczema, aims to raise national awareness of the impact of eczema, reduce stigma, and advocate for better care for the 31 million Americans living with this chronic inflammatory skin disease.
The first half of Eczema Awareness Month (October 1-14) focuses on what eczema looks like across all skin tones, explores the impacts on those living with it, and asks people to “unhide” their eczema by sharing their stories and showing their flares. The second half of the month (October 15-31) focuses on ways to take control of eczema, including management techniques, treatment options, and NEA resources such as the Seal of Acceptance and EczemaWise.
The eczema community and general public can engage with NEA in a variety of ways during this year’s Eczema Awareness Month. Here’s how:
- Visit the EAM site and NEA’s social media channels (@NationalEczema on Instagram, Facebook, and X) for resources and engagement opportunities.
- Attend free educational webinars:
- “More Choices, Better Control,” presented by Dr. Zelma Chiesa Fuxench, an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Vice-Chair for Clinical Research with the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, and Dr. JiaDe “Jeff” Yu, a dual board-certified dermatologist and pediatric dermatologist and Chair of Dermatology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. This webinar is offered on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 5 pm PT/7 pm CT/8 pm ET.
- “How to Choose a Health Insurance Plan When You Have Eczema,” presented by Michele Guadelupe, MPH, NEA’s Director of Advocacy and Access. This webinar is offered on Thursday, October 30, 2025, 5 pm PT/7 pm CT/8 pm ET.
- Access Eczema Story Videos from the NEA Community.
- View the Eczema Visual guide for a comprehensive and inclusive look at eczema, which can vary greatly in appearance due to the type of eczema, skin tone, level of severity, and affected part of the body.
“Eczema Awareness Month gives the National Eczema Association a national platform to elevate the voices of millions of patients and families living with this challenging disease,” said Kristin Belleson, NEA President & CEO. “Through education, community, and advocacy, we’re working to reduce stigma, improve care, and influence policy that ensures better outcomes for everyone affected by eczema.”
