Patient Advocates Applaud SEP-1’s Adoption into the CMS VBP Program
August 2, 2023
On August 1st, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Early Management Bundle, also known as “SEP-1,” would officially be adopted into its Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program. This is a victory for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, and Sepsis Alliance applauds CMS for making this change.
What is SEP-1?
SEP-1 is a process used by clinicians in hospitals when treating patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. It focuses on timely sepsis recognition and early intervention with life saving therapies. Importantly, it helps to ensure that hospital leadership and clinicians are keeping their focus on the possibility of sepsis in every case. Since 2015, CMS has provided incentives for hospitals for reporting on their compliance with SEP-1.
What will change with VBP adoption?
Now, with the forthcoming adoption of SEP-1 into the VBP program, hospitals’ payments will be tied to performance in accordance with the SEP-1 processes, not just reporting. This is a big step forward in terms of incentivizing high-quality sepsis care and ensuring that hospitals follow evidence-based guidelines that benefit patients.
How do we know that SEP-1 benefits patients?
Here’s what the data show:
- A 2021 study examined patient-level data reported to Medicare by 3,241 hospitals between 2015 and 2017. The study shows that, in hospitals that follow SEP-1 guidelines, there is a lower percentage of patients who die in the first 30 days after a sepsis hospitalization.
- With the 2013 passage of Rory’s Regulations, New York began requiring hospitals to follow protocols for the early identification and treatment of sepsis very similar to SEP-1 for the early identification and treatment of sepsis. Results of a New York study show that more rapid completion of a 3-hour bundle of sepsis care and rapid administration of antibiotics were associated with lower risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality.
- A retrospective study of data from 2007 to 2020 shows that delays in first antimicrobial administration in patients with suspected infection are associated with rapid increases in likelihood of progression to septic shock, further making the case for SEP-1.
“I’ve spent my entire career fighting sepsis and honing the best approach to patient care,” said Dr. Steven Q. Simpson, Professor of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at the University of Kansas and Chair of Sepsis Alliance’s Board of Directors. “Sepsis is both common and deadly. CMS’s decision to incentivize early, aggressive treatment of patients with sepsis is the right move to make. It will help all doctors provide optimal sepsis care and save lives.”
“I went into septic shock because of a small, infected cut on my finger,” recalled Katy Grainger, a sepsis survivor, patient advocate, and Sepsis Alliance Board of Directors member. “Because my symptoms were indicating the possibility of sepsis, my clinicians at our small community hospital followed the protocol that was required by SEP-1. Had my medical team delayed my sepsis treatment at all, I likely would not be here.”
SEP-1 can improve outcomes and save lives, and its adoption into the VBP program will strengthen its ability to help patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Sepsis Alliance applauds this decision by CMS and will continue to advocate for SEP-1’s continued use in hospitals.
Learn more about SEP-1 here.
