The American Lung Association has released its 2024 "State of Lung Cancer" report, revealing that Alabama ranks among the worst in the nation for lung cancer survival rates. The report indicates that Alabama's survival rate stands at 22.3 percent, significantly below the national average of 28.4 percent.
Ashley Lyerly, senior director of advocacy for the American Lung Association, emphasized the need for focused efforts to improve these statistics: “Lung cancer is a devastating disease and impacts far too many families in Alabama. To address the burden of lung cancer and to help improve the lives of people it impacts, we must continue to evaluate the greatest needs. This report helps us prioritize which areas to focus on to truly make an impact.”
The report also highlights disparities in treatment access, noting that Black individuals in Alabama are less likely to receive surgical intervention for lung cancer. Despite these challenges, there is positive news nationally as survival rates have improved by 26 percent over five years due to advancements in detection and treatment.
To further enhance outcomes in Alabama, the report suggests increasing access to early screening and biomarker testing. These measures can detect lung cancer at more treatable stages and tailor treatments more effectively since not all lung cancers are identical.
A significant aspect introduced this year is an examination of health insurance coverage requirements for comprehensive biomarker testing across states. Such testing identifies changes in tumor DNA that can guide treatment decisions but remains inconsistently covered by insurance nationwide. Currently, Alabama does not mandate insurance coverage for this type of testing.
Additionally, Alabama is unique as it does not provide annual low-dose CT scans for high-risk individuals under Medicaid without administrative or financial barriers—a practice shown to reduce death rates from lung cancer by up to 20 percent through early detection.
The American Lung Association urges state policy changes requiring insurance coverage for biomarker testing and calls on Congress to pass legislation enhancing access to lung cancer screening (H.R. 4286). Expanding Medicaid could also close healthcare gaps affecting those at high risk within Alabama.
