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: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by sepsis worldwide
Estimated Size: 1700000
- Sepsis is a major health issue worldwide, affecting millions of people each year.
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sepsis affects more than 30 million people worldwide annually.
- Hospitals and healthcare systems across the globe deal with sepsis cases, impacting a wide range of individuals who suffer from infections.
- The creation of a national data trust and strategy might indirectly benefit international research and policies if shared or made accessible.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to improve the management and outcomes of sepsis, a condition affecting 1.7 million people annually in the U.S.
- The policy has a clear focus on improving data collection and standardizing treatment, which will primarily affect healthcare providers and patients.
- Given the budget and target population, the policy will likely have a medium level of impact in terms of immediate changes but could lead to high long-term benefits in terms of data-driven improvements in healthcare.
- Some individuals may not notice an immediate change in their wellbeing scores but could benefit from better healthcare outcomes over time.
- The policy's data-centric approach means that its success depends significantly on how effectively the collected data drives change in treatment protocols and patient outcomes.
Simulated Interviews
ICU Nurse (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think standardizing the definition of sepsis will help us catch cases earlier.
- Having more data means better research opportunities, which can lead to improved care protocols.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired (Tampa, FL)
Age: 84 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the data trust helps doctors identify sepsis faster.
- If this can prevent another hospitalization, it's worth it.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Data Analyst (Austin, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The national data trust is a great initiative for improving healthcare through data.
- Standardizing data collection will impact how projects are handled, hopefully for the better.
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 | 9 | 8 |
Hospital Administrator (New York, NY)
Age: 59 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Another set of reporting requirements but with potential for saving lives, so it's a net positive.
- The data trust will put us on a more informed path for dealing with sepsis.
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 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Medical Resident (Portland, OR)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a standardized approach will refine my practice and how I learn to handle sepsis cases.
- Access to more data directly affects how confidently residents can treat conditions.
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 | 9 |
Public Health Official (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is an essential step to make good use of sepsis-related data across states.
- The challenge will be in how quickly we can get medical professionals on board.
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 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Farmer (Omaha, NE)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't know much about sepsis, but if it helps hospitals do their job, that's good.
- Seems more relevant to people who are always in hospitals.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Biotechnology Researcher (Seattle, WA)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The national sepsis data trust is a fantastic project with data-enabled insights.
- Hoping for major breakthroughs through this data.
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 | 9 |
Sepsis Survivor Advocate (Denver, CO)
Age: 49 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a national effort to standardize sepsis management is great news for survivors.
- This could lead to better support systems for people recovering from sepsis.
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 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Primary Care Physician (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will provide better guidelines for identifying sepsis early.
- Data trust could help create more effective preventive strategies.
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 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $60000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $70000000)
Year 3: $70000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $80000000)
Year 5: $80000000 (Low: $70000000, High: $90000000)
Year 10: $100000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $110000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $170000000)
Key Considerations
- The establishment and maintenance of a national sepsis data trust will require substantial initial funding and consistent financial support for technological infrastructure.
- Coordination between federal and state entities is crucial for the efficient implementation of standardized sepsis reporting and management.
- Healthcare providers will need training and resources to effectively adapt to the new sepsis treatment protocols and data reporting requirements.