SEPSIS Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
- Committees
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jun 3, 2025
Bottom line
The SEPSIS Act aims to reduce sepsis incidence and mortality through enhanced federal coordination, data collection, education, and hospital best practices, backed by a five-year funding authorization.
What it actually does
This bill, known as the SEPSIS Act, establishes new programs within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at reducing sepsis rates. It mandates the creation of a dedicated sepsis team to lead education campaigns, improve data collection (especially for pediatric sepsis), inform the development of sepsis quality measures, and update data elements for health information interoperability. The bill also requires annual congressional briefings on sepsis activities and authorizes a voluntary 'Honor Roll' program for hospitals demonstrating effective sepsis management.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill addresses a critical public health crisis, as sepsis affects 1.7 million Americans and kills 350,000 annually, with many deaths being preventable. They highlight the significant economic burden of sepsis and the proven success of state-level protocols, asserting that increased federal investment in research, data, and education will save lives, improve patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs.
Opponents contend
Potential opponents might contend that existing federal agencies already have mandates to address infectious diseases and public health, suggesting that this bill could create redundant programs or add unnecessary bureaucracy. They might also argue that healthcare quality improvements are best driven by states and local institutions, or that the authorized funding could be more effectively allocated to other pressing health priorities.
The bill is concise and clearly written, making it accessible for a quick read and easy to understand its core provisions.
Section 3, amending Title III of the Public Health Service Act by inserting "SEC. 317W. SEPSIS PROGRAMS." subsection (a).
CDC Sepsis Team and Core Activities
This provision directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the CDC Director, to maintain a dedicated sepsis team. This team will lead education campaigns on best practices (such as the Hospital Sepsis Program Core Elements), improve pediatric sepsis data collection, share information with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for quality measures, update sepsis data elements for interoperability, facilitate outcome measure development, and conduct other sepsis-related activities as deemed appropriate by the Director.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that a dedicated CDC team ensures focused federal attention on sepsis, leveraging the CDC's expertise to standardize best practices, improve critical data collection, and foster interagency collaboration, which is essential for a widespread public health challenge like sepsis.
Critics contend
Critics might suggest that existing CDC divisions already address infectious diseases and healthcare quality, and creating a new 'sepsis team' might lead to bureaucratic overlap rather than significant new impact, or divert resources from other critical public health areas.
Tradeoffs
The tension lies between creating a focused, dedicated team for a specific health crisis versus integrating sepsis efforts within broader infectious disease or healthcare quality initiatives to avoid fragmentation.
Section 3, amending Title III of the Public Health Service Act by inserting "SEC. 317W. SEPSIS PROGRAMS." subsections (b) and (c).
Congressional Reports and Annual Briefings on Sepsis Progress
This section mandates two types of reporting to Congress: a one-time report within a year on the development and implementation of sepsis outcome measures for adults and children, considering social and clinical factors; and annual briefings thereafter. These briefings will cover hospital adoption of best practices, pediatric sepsis rates, interagency coordination, impact evaluation of core elements, data sharing, and the latest sepsis datasets.
Section 3, amending Title III of the Public Health Service Act by inserting "SEC. 317W. SEPSIS PROGRAMS." subsection (d).
Voluntary Hospital Sepsis Honor Roll
This provision authorizes the Secretary to establish a voluntary program to recognize hospitals that effectively manage or significantly improve their sepsis programs. This includes excellence in early detection, effective treatment, and overall reduction of the sepsis burden. The Secretary would solicit applications from hospitals and establish public benchmarks for selection and recognition.
Section 3, amending Title III of the Public Health Service Act by inserting "SEC. 317W. SEPSIS PROGRAMS." subsection (e).
Funding Authorization for Sepsis Programs
This provision authorizes the appropriation of $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the sepsis programs established in this section. This provides the financial basis for the CDC's sepsis team, data collection, reporting, and the honor roll program.