Lung Cancer Screening Initiatives
Working together to support communities across the country through screening, navigation, and early detection.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in America, but there is hope. Screening can help find lung cancer at an early stage when it may be easier to treat.
About the Lung Cancer Screening Initiatives
To increase lung cancer screening rates and advance health equity across the country, our Lung Cancer Screening Initiatives work with healthcare systems and community-based organizations to:
- Raise awareness of lung cancer screening eligibility and the importance of early detection
- Reduce barriers to screening, follow-up care, and treatment
- Connect individuals with patient support, navigation, and referral services
- Expand equitable access to low-dose CT (LDCT) screening for individuals at high risk for lung cancer
- Support comprehensive lung health through tobacco cessation and other risk reduction services
Our Goals Are To:
Individuals at High Risk
Our Lung Cancer Screening Initiatives focus on individuals who may be eligible for annual LDCT screening based on current United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Medicare recommendations. Individuals are considered eligible if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Are 50 – 80 years of age (50-77 for Medicare beneficiaries)
- Have a 20 pack-year history of smoking (this means 1 pack a day for 20 years, or 2 packs a day for 10 years)
- Currently smoke or have quit within the last 15 years
Individuals who do not meet the current lung cancer screening eligibility criteria, or whose screening is not covered by insurance, should discuss any lung health concerns with their primary care provider.
Helping Communities
Our Lung Cancer Screening Initiatives have made a meaningful impact across the country. Since FY22, together with our healthcare and community partners, we have:
- Referred more than 62,300 eligible individuals to a lung cancer screening, with 82% completing a LDCT scan after referral. 71% of program participants diagnosed with lung cancer were diagnosed at an early stage.
- Enrolled 70% of eligible individuals who currently smoke (30% of all referrals) in a tobacco cessation program following referral for lung cancer screening.
- Provided mini-grant funding to 111 health systems and community-based organization partners.
- Registered and trained 54 partner staff as a Freedom From Smoking® facilitator.
- Increased calls and referrals to Lung Health Navigators by 1,500% and supported over 1,000 individuals who received resources to overcome barriers to screening.
- Generated over 530M media impressions through local marketing and awareness campaigns.
Programs & Support Services
Lung Health Navigators
Our Lung Health Navigators provide personalized support and guidance to individuals throughout the lung cancer screening process. They help individuals understand their lung cancer risk, facilitate referrals to lung cancer screening services, and make connections to resources and services that support timely and equitable access to care.
Our Navigators can help individuals:
- Determine eligibility for lung cancer screening and address eligibility concerns
- Locate local primary care or screening centers
- Assist with scheduling appointments and provide follow-up support after screening
- Access transportation assistance and coordination to and from screening appointments
- Understand health insurance coverage and explore insurance coverage options for those who are uninsured
- Connect with free tobacco cessation services, including state tobacco quitlines, and support services
- Navigate the healthcare system and access appropriate community resources
Note: Financial assistance for certain transportation and screening-related expenses may be available through educational grants in select states.
Tobacco Cessation Integration
The Lung Cancer Screening Initiatives support the integration of tobacco cessation services into lung cancer screening programs and offers a variety of tools, resources, and support to individuals quit tobacco use.
- The American Lung Association’s highly effective Freedom From Smoking® is used by employers, hospitals, health plans and other organizations to help the individuals they serve become tobacco-free for life. There’s a Freedom From Smoking® option for every person and every setting.
- The American Lung Association’s nationwide Lung Helpline, staffed with certified tobacco treatment specialists, can help answer all lung-health related questions and connect individuals to the right resources, including Individual cessation programs, corporate wellness/employer programs, and state tobacco quitlines.
- Don’t know where to start? Learn more about how you can help someone quit for good.
Current Initiatives
Our Lung Health Navigator services are available nationwide; however, the map below stays up to date with current and ongoing Lung Cancer Screening Initiatives, and any patient assistance resources that may be available locally through educational grants.
Resources and Toolkits
Funding made possible in part by a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Page last updated: October 19, 2026
