As we approach Thanksgiving, we find ourselves reflecting on the many reasons we have to be grateful this year. At the heart of our gratitude is you - our members, community, and partners who make our work possible and meaningful. This season reminds us that our greatest achievements aren't measured in numbers alone, but in the relationships we've built and the positive impact we've created together. Thank you for being an essential part of our journey.

LAST CHANCE to Help Shape CSD’s 2025–26 Advocacy Priorities

We invite you to take part in a brief survey to help guide the CSD's advocacy priorities for 2025–26. Your input will directly inform the policy positions we champion on behalf of the 84 million individuals living with a skin condition.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey by end of the day today, November 17. We ask that you respond thoughtfully and on behalf of the patient population your organization represents.

SURVEY HERE!

Thank you for your time, expertise, and continued partnership in advancing the needs of the skin disease community. 

Share Your Feedback: CSD Member Empowerment Webinar Series

Thank you to everyone who participated in our recent Member Empowerment Webinar Series! We hope you gained valuable insights and practical strategies to support your organization's work.

Your feedback is essential to helping us create programming that truly meets your needs. Please take a few minutes to complete our brief survey and share your experience. Tell us what worked well, what topics you'd like to explore in future sessions, and how we can better support you in maximizing your impact.

Your input will directly shape our future webinars and resources. Thank you for taking the time to help us serve you better!

P.S. If you missed our Member Empowerment Series on September 18, "Amplify Your Impact: Using People Strategy to Fuel Mission Success," you can view a recording of it here.

CSD Full Membership Winter Meeting

Mark your calendar for the upcoming CSD Full Membership Fall Meeting on Wednesday, December 3 from 2 - 3PM ET.

This quarterly gathering is your chance to connect with fellow advocates, hear updates on our legislative victories, and help shape our advocacy priorities for the remainder of 2025 and into 2026. Additionally, we will be voting on a change in the bylaws, which can be viewed here. Please register for the meeting here and come ready to engage!

CSD Hill Day 2026

Mark your calendar for the upcoming CSD Hill Day from May 17 - 19, 2026! We're excited to head to Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of the 84 million Americans with a skin disease. In addition to meeting with legislators to discuss the CSD's legislative and policy priorities, we'll have prominent speakers and advocacy training.

Be on the lookout in the coming months for more information on how to apply, and you can read through the CSD's Hill Day 2025 Report here.

CSD Signs Coalition Letters in Support of NIH Funding and Alopecia/Vitiligo Legislation

Last month, the CSD signed onto two coalition letters of support; the first one (signed by 455 organizations!) was sent to Congressional appropriators urging them to provide no less than the Senate Appropriations Committee-approved level of $47.2 billion in Fiscal Year 2026 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The second letter was led by CSD member organization DCAN (Derma Care Access Network) and expressed our support for bipartisan legislation that would ensure that patients with vitiligo and alopecia areata are not excluded from Medicaid coverage for FDA-approved treatments.

We encourage you to share the CSD's action alert platform with your members. This advocacy tool makes it easy for your members to:

• Email their legislators about the FY26 appropriations bill and NIH funding
• Share personal stories about why NIH funding is critical to them
• Demonstrate the importance of this funding to the entire skin disease community

It's more important than ever to encourage your members to make their voices heard! Together, we can ensure continued progress for skin disease research and treatment.

AAD Annual Meeting and CSD Development Day

The CSD is excited to host our annual Development Day in conjunction with the American Academy of Dermatology's Annual Meeting in Denver, CO.

Our full Membership is invited to this event taking place on Saturday, March 28th, from 8:30 am - 12:45 pm. The CSD and the AAD are thrilled to be able to offer two complimentary registrations for each of our Patient Group member organizations.

This event will be a time for our hard working members to be poured into with lots of great content from our keynote speakers and opportunities to connect with colleagues, old and new. The Development Day will include catered breakfast and lunch.

 To ensure that we send registration information to the appropriate representatives in your organization, you are asked to email Natalie Mamerow and Liz Demorest with the name, address, email, and organizational role of the chosen individuals by Monday, December 15, 2025.  

Medicare Enrollment Resources

The Annual Open Enrollment for Medicare began on October 15 and ends on December 7, 2025 for coverage beginning January 1, 2026. ​ The CSD, in partnership with the Medicare Access for Patients Rx (MAPRx) Coalition, created a Medicare Part D prescription drug open enrollment guide and patient guide for our members, as well as an infographic.

Additional resources include:

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has state-by-state Medicare enrollment fact sheets.
• The Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation (CLF) has compiled an incredible list of resources regarding Medicare enrollment and the changes that have been made to Medicare for 2026 coverage, specifically to the Part D prescription drug program. Please visit their website for more information.

The Coalition of Skin Diseases gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our

Healthcare Industry Partners.