LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas health officials and the American Lung Association have launched a statewide initiative to increase access to lung cancer screenings for residents considered at high risk, particularly Black adults ages 50 to 80 with a history of smoking.
The program, announced during National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, offers free or low-cost low-dose CT (LDCT) scans through December. Organizers say the effort is aimed at improving early detection rates and addressing disparities in lung cancer outcomes across the state.
Eligible residents can call 844-ALA-LUNG to speak with a Lung Health Navigator and determine qualification. The program also provides support services, including help locating screening sites, obtaining physician referrals, understanding insurance coverage, and accessing transportation.
“Screening saves lives, but too many Arkansans still aren’t being screened early enough,” said Allie Kelsey, manager of nationwide lung cancer screening for the American Lung Association.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Arkansas, where incidence rates remain higher than the national average. According to the organization’s 2025 State of Lung Cancer report, Arkansas reports 68.2 cases per 100,000 people, compared with 52.8 nationally.
Health officials say early detection remains a key challenge. While annual low-dose CT screenings can reduce lung cancer mortality by up to 20%, screening rates continue to lag, especially among communities of color.
Black residents in Arkansas face some of the largest disparities, according to data from the American Lung Association. Black men in the state experience lung cancer incidence rates of about 65.7 cases per 100,000 people, higher than the national rate of 54.2. They are also less likely to be diagnosed at an early stage, receive surgical treatment, or survive five years after diagnosis compared with white patients.
Organizers say the initiative is intended to reduce those gaps by improving awareness and access to preventive care.
More information about eligibility and screening locations is available at Lung.org/LCS-Assistance or by calling 844-ALA-LUNG.