Financial Implications of Sepsis Prevention, Early Identification, and Treatment

Each day an estimated 2000 to 3000 new cases of sepsis are identified and treated in US hospitals. Despite the enormity of the problem, less than one-half of all US adults have heard of sepsis. This article reviews the financial costs of sepsis in the United States, examining the evidence for its economic impact across both hospitals and nursing homes. A brief description of payment models and government programs to promote more coordinated care between hospitals and nursing homes is provided to highlight areas where advances in sepsis care may be incentivized and sustained in new systems emerging in response to the Affordable Care Act. Finally, the costs of sepsis care to the Medicare program in a specific health care market (Pittsburgh) are estimated to highlight the challenges and opportunities for interorganizational collaborative strategies in value-based models of care delivery.