Bill Overview
Title: LuLu’s Law
Description: This bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address sepsis. (Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.) In particular, HHS must standardize the definition of sepsis; make sepsis a nationally notifiable condition; develop a national strategy for treating and eliminating the burden of sepsis; and establish a national sepsis data trust to improve the collection and sharing of data concerning sepsis cases, including through grants to support state-based data trusts.
Sponsors: Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]
Target Audience
Population: People at risk for or suffering from sepsis worldwide
Estimated Size: 1700000
- Sepsis affects over 49 million people worldwide each year and contributes to approximately 1 in 5 deaths globally.
- The legislation aims to standardize protocols and improve outcomes in sepsis treatment and prevention, potentially impacting all those who may suffer from or treat sepsis.
- Healthcare professionals involved in treating sepsis will be directly impacted by the new guidelines and strategies developed through the act.
- Improvements in data collection and sharing may affect hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities globally.
Reasoning
- Sepsis affects a significant number of people annually in the United States, making the policy relevant to a broad range of individuals, from patients and healthcare providers to researchers.
- Consideration needs to be given to the economic and logistical constraints tied to implementing a national program of this scale, as the policy budget is limited, and the infrastructure to support nationwide data collection and strategy deployment is significant.
- The policy's success largely depends on its ability to improve sepsis detection, treatment, and prevention while ensuring efficient data handling, influencing both short-term and long-term wellbeing of affected individuals.
- Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and admin staff, will be directly impacted by changes in sepsis management and reporting procedures.
- Patients with a history of sepsis, or those with chronic illnesses that increase their risk of infection, will likely see improvements in care and outcomes long-term.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's about time sepsis gets more attention; it's a devastating condition that can hit anyone without notice.
- Standardizing sepsis treatment can save lives, so I'm hopeful this policy will lead to better care in hospitals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
ER Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will change our protocols significantly, but it's necessary to ensure we're providing the best care possible.
- I'm concerned about the adjustment period, but ultimately, it should reduce fatalities from sepsis.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Healthcare Policy Analyst (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial we have a national strategy to combat sepsis, as it's a preventable cause of mortality.
- Consolidating data to standardize sepsis treatment can lead to groundbreaking innovations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Hospital Administrator (Austin, TX)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Implementing the national sepsis strategy will require investment in training and resources, but it has to be prioritized for better patient outcomes.
- Data sharing is a double-edged sword; it's beneficial, but must be managed carefully for privacy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Primary Care Physician (Seattle, WA)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My patients who have had sepsis in the past will benefit greatly from standardized care protocols.
- We need to be vigilant with resources to adjust to the added data requirements and reporting standards.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Research opportunities on sepsis will expand, allowing for deeper academic exploration and public health innovations.
- It's exciting to see public health and policy intersect meaningfully with this bill.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired Engineer (Miami, FL)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Surviving sepsis changed my life. Knowing there will be more focus on preventing it is reassuring.
- Healthcare innovations can ease the burden for people like me dealing with post-sepsis challenges.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Public Health Advocate (Boston, MA)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sepsis needs the spotlight in public health discussions; this policy will elevate its significance.
- Standardized strategies will hopefully translate to other areas of infection control.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Software Developer (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My uncle's battle with sepsis was a wake-up call, so seeing a national effort for early detection and treatment is encouraging.
- Innovation in medical data sharing can model improvements in other tech areas, which is exciting for someone in my field.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Nursing Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will directly impact how I'm trained to handle emergent infections, increasing my preparedness.
- Being at the start of my career, this policy shapes how future nurses prioritize infection responses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $90000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $90000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $100000000)
Year 3: $90000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $100000000)
Year 5: $90000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $100000000)
Year 10: $90000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $100000000)
Year 100: $90000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $100000000)
Key Considerations
- The ability of HHS to implement and coordinate with state agencies is crucial.
- Potential resistance or challenges in changing existing hospital and clinical protocols.
- Data privacy and interoperability issues need to be addressed when establishing the data trust.