Lawmakers Revive SEPSIS Act to Tackle Deadly Infections in Health Care
“I won’t stop fighting until this bill becomes law and fewer families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to this deadly – yet treatable – condition.”
-Senate Leader Chuck Schumer
in a statement given exclusively to The Invisible Voice
Every year, 1.7 million people in the United States are diagnosed with sepsis, and 350,000 die from it. Sepsis-related infections and deaths may disproportionately affect disabled and chronically ill individuals, who often face increased risks due to complex medical conditions and health care disparities. Reintroduced by a bipartisan group of senators June 5, the SEPSIS Act aims to reduce sepsis rates by expanding programs managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The senators spearheading the bill are Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Photo courtesy of END SEPSIS
Left to right: Ciaran Staunton, Orlaith Staunton, Chuck Schumer
Leader Schumer’s commitment to sepsis advocacy began after the heartbreaking loss of 12-year-old Rory Staunton in 2012. Rory’s parents, Ciaran and Orlaith, turned their grief into action, founding the Rory Staunton Foundation for Sepsis Prevention, now END SEPSIS. Moved by their story, Schumer supported their fight to pass “Rory’s Regulations” - a state-wide mandate for sepsis care which has since saved thousands of lives in New York and beyond. However, more needed to be done on a national level.
“Sepsis is a stealthy killer that steals the lives of too many children, seniors, people with disabilities, and millions of others every year,” said Leader Schumer in an exclusive statement given to The Invisible Voice. “The United States health care facilities have the tools to detect and treat sepsis earlier, and the SEPSIS Act would put those tools to work saving countless lives. I won’t stop fighting until this bill becomes law and fewer families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one to this deadly – yet treatable – condition.”
The legislation includes provisions for a national campaign to educate hospital staff on best practices for preventing and treating sepsis, enhanced data collection, and regular reporting to Congress.
Sepsis often starts with vague symptoms such as fever, confusion, or rapid breathing, but it can escalate quickly into organ failure if not treated promptly. Research underscores that early detection is critical, as timely intervention significantly improves survival and reduces the risk of long-term complications. For high-risk patients, such as those with chronic illness or complex medical needs, recognizing these early warning signs can be especially lifesaving.
“We know that early detection and treatment of sepsis is key to saving someone’s life,” said Senator Kim in a press release regarding the bill. “We can improve this through better coordination and education. I hope we can all come together on this bill to prevent further tragedy and save families from such unbearable loss.”
The SEPSIS Act expands on the CDC’s hospital sepsis “core elements” program, launched in 2023 and providing resources and guidance to help hospitals create leadership and accountability systems aimed at improving early detection and survival rates. “Core elements” has faced criticism for implementation challenges and insufficient data tracking.
“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 Schumer.
To enhance these standards, the bill directs the CDC to improve reporting on pediatric sepsis and update the sepsis-related data elements used by the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability. This effort will involve coordination with various offices within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and the Director of the Office of Public Health Data, Surveillance, and Technology.
The legislation also establishes a voluntary recognition program for hospitals that demonstrate effective or improving sepsis care programs.
Ultimately, the SEPSIS Act seeks to reduce preventable deaths and improve health outcomes by advancing how hospitals detect and manage a condition that remains one of the most urgent threats in health care, especially for high-risk communities such as those with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
“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.
