Pass the Lifesaving SEPSIS Act!

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 05:00:00 GMT

Sepsis kills 350,000 Americans each year – and the majority of those deaths are preventable. The total annual cost of sepsis care is estimated to be between $62 billion to over $80 billion per year. Ask your Senators to pass the lifesaving SEPSIS Act (S. 1929) today. This landmark bipartisan bill would include guarantee an investment of $20 million that would:

Expand outreach and education to hospitals to encourage adoption of the CDC’s comprehensive new sepsis guidelines, Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements.
Finalize and implement a sepsis outcome measure. A sepsis outcome measure would have significant, system-wide impacts on U.S. healthcare through:
- Standardizing sepsis care across hospitals
- Incentivize hospitals to improve, process that would lead to reductions in mortality and morbidity
- Lowering healthcare costs by implementing effective early interventions
- Drive Data Transparency and Quality Improvement by requiring hospitals to report sepsis outcomes publicly
- Strengthen sepsis programs nationwide by encouraging greater hospital investment in sepsis care
Improve data collection on pediatric sepsis
Create an incentive program for hospitals to improve sepsis outcomes

MORE INFORMATION

On September 13th, 2024, the SEPSIS (Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems and Initiatives for Sepsis) Act (S.1929) was introduced in the Senate. It was reintroduced to the new Congress on June 3rd, 2025. The bipartisan bill is being co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Andy Kim (D-NY). It aims to prevent sepsis fatalities by increasing early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis. The legislation would lessen the devastating and costly impact that sepsis has on our hospitals, our healthcare system, and friends and families of potential sepsis victims.

The legislation tasks the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with dedicated sepsis work, building on their ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of sepsis through the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements. The CDC’s work will include an education campaign about addressing sepsis in hospitals; improving data collection on pediatric sepsis; sharing information across HHS on sepsis quality measures; and development and implementation of a sepsis outcome measure

The SEPSIS Act would also require a report on a sepsis outcome measure by HHS and a Congressional briefing on the CDC’s sepsis activities. Finally, the SEPSIS Act includes a voluntary recognition program for hospitals who maintain effective sepsis programs or improve their sepsis programs over time. The full bill is available here.

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Pass the Lifesaving SEPSIS Act!