SEPSIS Bill Introduced in US Senate
On September 11, 2024, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, alongside Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey, introduced the bipartisan SEPSIS (Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems and Initiatives for Sepsis) Act to the US Senate.
This legislation aims to reduce sepsis-related deaths by directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expand their dedicated efforts on sepsis prevention, building on their ongoing work to combat this deadly condition. The bill builds on the success of Rory’s Regulations, a life-saving initiative in New York State.
The Global Sepsis Alliance wishes to congratulate Orlaith and Ciaran Staunton and their team at END SEPSIS for their continuous leadership and vision and for repeatedly putting sepsis in front of policymakers in the US and beyond.
“Sepsis is a devastating medical condition, which unjustly claims the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. The true tragedy is that many of these fatalities are preventable if there is early enough detection. The federal government must continue to bring more awareness and research to combat this ruinous condition and save lives. I sincerely thank the Stauntons, who faced an unimaginable loss when their son Rory – a 12-year-old from Queens – died from sepsis a decade ago. They have turned their profound suffering into tangible action so that hopefully no parent or family has to experience the same pain.”
“We congratulate Senator Schumer for this lifesaving bill, which will help prevent hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths from sepsis. No one has worked harder, given more of his time, and helped bring profound change in the battle against sepsis than the beloved senator from New York. Since our cherished son Rory died from sepsis 12 years ago, we have devoted our lives to ensuring there will be no more Rory Staunton cases, no families shattered, no parents weeping, no brothers and sisters bereft, no families left to face a thousand lonely nights because of death from a preventable condition. Thanks to this bill, we have taken an enormous step forward, ensuring the federal battle to end sepsis is now underway. As a child, Rory liked nothing better than helping people and lifting them up. He is still lifting us all up now and urging us to fight even harder. Our promise to him is that we will.”
The SEPSIS Act would task the 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 with HHS on data collection, including CMS on sepsis quality measures and
• Development and implementation of a sepsis outcome measure.
The SEPSIS Act also requires a report on developing and implementing a sepsis outcome measure and a Congressional briefing on CDC’s sepsis activities.
Lastly, the SEPSIS Act includes a voluntary recognition program for hospitals that maintain or improve effective sepsis programs over time.