On September 23, 2026, 30 National Eczema Association Ambassadors from 20 states logged on to meet with their legislators and share what managing eczema looks like in their everyday lives. Over two days, they held 61 meetings with congressional offices (36 with Senate offices and 25 with House offices), reaching lawmakers from 19 states and Washington, D.C.
This was NEA’s fourth annual Virtual Hill Day and our first held in the fall. It was also a first for many of our advocates: 36% of this year’s ambassadors were participating for the first time.
A congressman joins the conversation
Most congressional meetings take place with legislative staff, who play a key role in shaping their boss’s priorities. This year, two of our meetings included the Members of Congress themselves.
Rep. Gabe Amo of Rhode Island joined his meeting with NEA Ambassadors Lisa Boyon and Jiwon Park to hear directly from a constituent living with eczema.
A new cosponsor for the Safe Step Act
Shortly after meeting with NEA Ambassadors, Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania signed on as a cosponsor of the Safe Step Act (S. 2903).
Under step therapy, insurers can require patients to try and fail other treatments before approving the one their doctor prescribed. For people with eczema, that can mean months of uncontrolled symptoms. The Safe Step Act would require insurers to offer a clear and transparent process for patients and healthcare providers to request an exception.
Thank you, Sen. Fetterman, for standing with the eczema community.
What our ambassadors asked for
On behalf of the eczema community, NEA Ambassadors asked Congress to:
- Co-sponsor and pass the Safe Step Act. This bill would give patients and providers a clear path to request an exception to step therapy.
- Co-sponsor and pass the HELP Copays Act. Many employer health plans can label certain covered prescription drugs as “nonessential,” which means the patient’s cost-sharing doesn’t count toward their deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. This bill would close that loophole and make sure all copays count.
- Continue to include eczema in the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program. This program funds innovative, high-risk, high-reward medical research. NEA Ambassadors helped secure eczema’s eligibility in 2023, 2025 and 2026, but it must be renewed each year for eczema research to keep receiving funding.
- Support funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Increased funding would help NIH offset inflation and continue driving critical research advances in eczema.
Research funding moves through the annual appropriations process, so we may not know those outcomes until early next year. We’ll share updates as they come.
New voices, lasting impact
“This was my very first Virtual Hill Day, and I truly enjoyed every moment. As a research scientist and an adult living with eczema, I’m grateful for the opportunity to advocate for more funding for medical research and meet with legislators. Events like these are needed to enforce health policy reforms and, most importantly, provide quality access to care and innovative treatments.” – NEA Ambassador Elizabeth A.
“I was honestly pretty nervous going into my second Virtual Hill Day with the National Eczema Association, but I’m so proud that I pushed through those nerves and did it. Meeting with my senators and having the opportunity to share my personal experience and advocate for the eczema community was such a meaningful experience. It reminded me that even when I’m nervous or unsure of myself, my voice still matters.” – NEA Ambassador Samantha P.
Every meeting this year was built on the same idea: your skin, your story, your Congress. Legislators hear from lobbyists and policy experts all the time. Hearing directly from a parent, a caregiver or someone who has lived with eczema for decades is different, and it stays with them.
What comes next
Virtual Hill Day is over, but the work continues. NEA’s advocacy team is following up with every office we met and tracking new cosponsors, and we’ll share wins here and on social as they happen.
You can help keep the momentum going:
- Write your legislators. It takes just a few minutes to ask your members of Congress to support this year’s priorities. Take action
- Sign up for advocacy alerts. We’ll let you know when your voice is needed. Sign up
- Become an NEA Ambassador. Interested in joining us for a future advocacy event? Learn more
Thank you
To our 30 Ambassadors: thank you for your time, your preparation and your willingness to share your stories. And thank you to Sanofi and Regeneron for supporting Virtual Hill Day 2026.
