SEPSIS Act

This bill aims to lower sepsis cases and deaths by building stronger hospital programs, improving data (especially for kids), and sharing best practices nationwide. It directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to run an education campaign on proven hospital steps, improve pediatric sepsis tracking, and work with Medicare to shape better quality measures for patient care . A CDC-led team would also update health data standards and coordinate sepsis efforts across federal health agencies . The bill cites the huge toll of sepsis—about 1.7 million cases and 350,000 deaths a year—and notes that most deaths can be prevented with early action; many cases start outside the hospital .

Each year, the CDC would brief Congress on how hospitals are adopting best practices, progress on pediatric sepsis, and how these steps affect care quality. The Department of Health and Human Services could also create a voluntary “honor roll” to recognize hospitals that excel or improve in early detection, effective treatment, and lowering sepsis overall. Funding of $20 million per year is authorized for 2026 through 2030 to carry out these activities . Overall, the bill’s purpose is to set up programs that reduce sepsis nationwide .

• Who is affected: Patients, especially children; hospitals and clinicians; public health agencies
• What changes: CDC-led education and data work; development of outcome measures; annual progress briefings; optional hospital honor roll; federal funding to support these steps
• When: Report on outcome measures due within 1 year of enactment; annual briefings each year after; funding available fiscal years 2026–2030