Leader Schumer, Along With Senators Collins And Kim, Re-Introduce Legislation To Dramatically Reduce Sepsis Fatalities
Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), today re-introduced the bipartisan SEPSIS Act, which would reduce sepsis deaths by tasking the CDC with dedicated sepsis work, building on their ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of this harmful medical condition. The text of the bill can be seen here.
Today, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), re-introduced the bipartisan SEPSIS (Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems and Initiatives for Sepsis) Act, which aims to prevent sepsis fatalities by increasing early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment of sepsis. This 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 SEPSIS Act would task 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 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.
“Tragically, because of a lack of public awareness, too many cases of sepsis fly under the radar until it’s too late. I’ve long fought to raise awareness and boost federal research funding for this devastating condition,” said Leader Schumer. “I am grateful to my dear friends Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton from New York who went through the worst thing a parent could endure – losing their 12-year-old son Rory to sepsis a decade ago. Instead of retreating to darkness, they turned their grief into action to raise awareness for the disease and are working to create a future where no parent has to experience the same pain.”
“This bipartisan bill would help provide hospitals and health care professionals with the training and data they need to detect and treat sepsis earlier, so that fewer families lose loved ones to this devastating condition,” said Senator Collins.
“We know that early detection and treatment of sepsis is key to saving someone’s life,” said Senator Kim. “We can improve this through better coordination and education. I hope we can come together on this bill to prevent further tragedy and save families from such unbearable loss.”
“We thank Senator Schumer for his unwavering leadership in championing this lifesaving bill,” said Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton, founders of END SEPSIS, The Legacy of Rory Staunton. “Thirteen years ago, sepsis claimed the life of our 12-year-old son, Rory. Since then, we’ve dedicated ourselves to ensuring other families don’t endure the same heartbreak. Sepsis takes hundreds of thousands of lives each year, strains our healthcare system, and costs $64 billion annually. This bill is a major milestone in the fight against a preventable and treatable condition. 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.”
“America’s hospitals and health systems are committed to improving patient safety and reducing sepsis. We thank Senators Schumer, Collins and Kim for their leadership on this important issue and support the SEPSIS Act’s efforts to combat this life-threatening condition through increased education and development of a sepsis outcome measure that could help better assess progress, reduce unnecessary administrative burden and improve sepsis care,” said Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, senior vice president of federal relations, advocacy and political affairs, American Hospital Association.
“The Healthcare Association of New York State is pleased to support the Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems, and Initiatives for Sepsis Act spearheaded by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY). HANYS and our members are committed to enhancing sepsis detection and treatment, and this important bipartisan legislation will help build upon the progress made in New York since the adoption of Rory’s Regulations,” said HANYS President Bea Grause, RN, JD. “We applaud Leader Schumer for his steadfast commitment to fighting this serious condition and unwavering dedication to improving New Yorkers’ health.”
“The Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems and Initiatives for Sepsis (SEPSIS) Act builds on the CDC’s ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of a leading cause of death worldwide,” said Kenneth E. Raske, President of the Greater New York Hospital Association. “The SEPSIS Act also complements the critical work New York hospitals do every day to address and prevent sepsis. Senator Schumer continues to be a health care champion, and the hospital community thanks him for his leadership on this important issue.”
“Sepsis is a leading cause of preventable death and a critical patient safety challenge that hospitals confront every day. The SEPSIS Act represents meaningful federal leadership that will equip providers with strategies to detect and treat sepsis earlier,” said Charlene MacDonald, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the Federation of American Hospitals. “We applaud Senators Schumer, Collins, and Kim for prioritizing patient safety through this bipartisan legislation and recognizing the importance of partnership across hospitals, public health agencies, and families impacted by sepsis.”
“Sepsis Alliance is grateful to Senators Schumer, Collins and Kim for their reintroduction of the SEPSIS Act, an important measure for saving lives from sepsis. Over 350,000 U.S. adults are being taken by sepsis each year. The SEPSIS Act is a strong first step in the fight to save lives and limbs from this devastating condition, and we support the swift passage of this measure,” said Thomas Heymann, CEO of Sepsis Alliance.
Leader Schumer has been a staunch ally in the fight against sepsis. In the FY2024 appropriations bill, he secured $3 million for the CDC to continue to study sepsis, the largest funding amount ever for this medical condition. He additionally introduced a resolution to declare September 13th, 2024 as National Sepsis Day. Schumer previously introduced the SEPSIS Act in 2024 and will continue to urge the Trump Administration and the CDC to ensure that sepsis is prioritized on a federal level.
The text of the SEPSIS Act can be seen here.
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