H.R. 7116: Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems, and Initiatives for Sepsis Act

This bill, titled the "Securing Enhanced Programs, Systems, and Initiatives for Sepsis Act" or SEPSIS Act, aims to establish and enhance programs focused on reducing the rates of sepsis in the United States. Sepsis is a serious medical condition resulting from an infection and can lead to severe health complications and even death. The bill outlines several key provisions and actions to address this issue.

Key Findings

Congress highlights several important facts regarding sepsis:

• About 1.7 million individuals in the U.S. are diagnosed with sepsis each year, leading to approximately 350,000 fatalities.
• There is a significant need for increased federal funding for sepsis research, particularly for pediatric cases.
• The healthcare workforce dedicated to infectious diseases requires more support to effectively manage and reduce the incidence of sepsis.
• Sepsis is among the costliest health conditions for hospitals due to high treatment costs and frequent readmissions.
• A large percentage of sepsis cases start outside of hospitals, indicating a need for better awareness and early intervention.
• Preventable deaths from sepsis are often due to a lack of timely diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the need for quicker identification of the condition.
• Best practices from successful sepsis protocols, like those in New York State known as Rory's Regulations, can save lives and should be studied and implemented nationwide.

Establishment of Sepsis Programs

The bill proposes amendments to the Public Health Service Act to create a dedicated sepsis team under the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This team will:

• Lead educational campaigns on best practices for sepsis management in hospitals.
• Enhance data collection related to pediatric sepsis.
• Collaborate with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to improve sepsis quality measures.
• Update data elements concerning sepsis for better interoperability across healthcare systems.
• Develop outcome measures and facilitate additional related activities as deemed appropriate.

Reporting Requirements

The Director of the CDC is tasked with providing a report within one year of the bill's enactment on the development of sepsis outcome measures for both adults and children. This report will address social and clinical factors influencing sepsis development.

Furthermore, the CDC must give annual briefings to relevant Senate and House committees, covering:

• Data on hospitals adopting best practices for sepsis care.
• Statistics on pediatric sepsis and strategies to mitigate it.
• Coordination efforts across applicable departments and agencies.
• Evaluations of how best practices impact overall quality of care.
• Data-sharing initiatives related to sepsis between healthcare safety networks and other relevant agencies.

Honor Roll Program

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may initiate a voluntary program to recognize hospitals that effectively address sepsis through early detection and improved treatment methods. The program would establish benchmarks to select hospitals deserving of recognition based on their performance in reducing sepsis rates.

Funding Provisions

The bill authorizes an appropriation of $20 million for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to support these initiatives aimed at reducing the incidence and impact of sepsis.

Relevant Companies

• MDT (Medtronic): This company produces medical devices and technologies that could be involved in the treatment and management of sepsis.
• BSX (Boston Scientific): Known for medical devices, Boston Scientific may see changes in demand related to sepsis treatment options.