Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, with Senators Susan Collins and Bob Casey, today introduced the SEPSIS Act, which would reduce sepsis death by tasking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with dedicated sepsis work, building on their ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of this harmful medical condition. This bill builds on the success of life-saving Rory’s Regulations in New York State.
“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 combatting this ruinous condition and save lives,” said Leader Schumer.
“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.”
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 Health and Human Services (HHS) on sepsis quality measures; and developing and implementing 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 that maintain effective sepsis programs or improve their sepsis programs over time.
“Sepsis is a major public health challenge. It affects 1.7 million Americans annually and remains one of the leading causes of death in hospitals, but a recent CDC study shows there is significant opportunity for improvement,” said Senator Collins.
“This bipartisan bill would build upon the CDC’s ongoing efforts to improve early detection, management, and outcomes for septic patients in hospitals throughout the country. This is a crucial step forward in addressing a preventable condition that continues to take too many lives.”
“With early recognition, diagnosis, and treatment, we can save thousands of lives from preventable sepsis deaths,” said Senator Casey.
“Our bill will collect much-needed data, improve patient care, and reduce the burden of sepsis on families and hospitals. I will always fight to keep Pennsylvanians healthy and will keep working to prevent future tragedies.”
“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,” said Ciaran and Orlaith Staunton, the founders of END SEPSIS, The Legacy of Rory Staunton.
“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.”
Leader Schumer has been a staunch ally in the fight against sepsis. In last year’s appropriations bill, he secured $3 million for the CDC to continue to study sepsis, the largest funding amount ever for this medical condition. He has also secured $5 million for further study in the FY2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. He also introduced a resolution to declare September 13th, 2024 as National Sepsis Day. He will continue the drumbeat with the Biden-Harris Administration and the CDC to ensure that sepsis is prioritized on a federal level.
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