[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 107 (Thursday, June 25, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H4252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WORLD VITILIGO DAY

  (Ms. McCLELLAN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate World Vitiligo 
Day, raising awareness for the 3.7 million Americans living with the 
autoimmune condition that causes discoloration of the skin, like Erika, 
one of my constituents who sought a way to treat her vitiligo symptoms 
throughout her childhood.
  Even though the FDA first approved a repigment treatment for vitiligo 
in 2020, access to treatments remained financially out of reach for 
constituents like Erika due to Virginia's classification of vitiligo as 
a cosmetic condition rather than what it actually is: an autoimmune 
disease.
  Absent treatment, vitiligo patients face significant mental health 
burdens and stigma that contribute to their worsening health and less 
productivity.
  While Medicare covers vitiligo treatment, Medicaid coverage varies 
State by State. Since Virginia classifies vitiligo as a cosmetic 
condition, Medicaid won't cover the treatment in our Commonwealth.
  Today, I urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to certify 
that vitiligo is a noncosmetic autoimmune condition so that Medicaid 
recipients with this condition can access the life-changing treatments.
  No matter where you live, you should be able to get the treatment you 
need when you need it.

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