Despite progress in lung cancer prevention, Maryland faces a need to increase screening and early diagnosis rates to close gaps in care.
In a recent Maryland Matters article, Maryland has made strides in addressing lung cancer, but new data highlights a critical area for improvement: screening and early diagnosis. Local health departments are vital partners in this effort, and Maryland benefits from their expertise and dedication. They communicate with residents through anti-smoking advertising campaigns to decrease smoking and target high-risk groups. They also connect individuals with counseling and medications and educate healthcare providers about local resources supporting tobacco cessation.
Screening with annual low-dose CT scans is one of the most effective tools to catch lung cancer early, significantly improving survival rates. According to the American Lung Association’s 2024 State of Lung Cancer report, Maryland ranks 23rd in screening rates and 26th in early diagnoses among US states. These rankings indicate a gap in ensuring at-risk individuals—those aged 50–80 with a history of smoking—receive the annual scans that could reduce lung cancer deaths by up to 20%.
Reducing the burden of lung cancer will require a comprehensive, multifaceted approach. From the article:
- Expanding Screening Efforts: Educating both healthcare providers and patients about screening eligibility and encouraging annual scans for high-risk individuals.
- Reducing Smoking Rates: Strengthening prevention efforts and offering resources to help people quit smoking across all communities.
- Ensuring Equitable Access: Addressing disparities in smoking and healthcare access, particularly in rural and underserved urban areas.
In 2023, Maryland passed a law requiring insurers to cover biomarker testing, a cutting-edge method of tailoring treatments by analyzing blood, tissue, or other samples during cancer care. This law, already in effect for private insurers, will extend to Medicaid enrollees by mid-2025, contingent on state budget funding.