MaineHealth Hospitals Offer Free Lung Screenings
Pen Bay and Waldo hospitals join National Lung Cancer Screening Day on November 14, 2026, with weekend screening hours at several sites.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Cancer
MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital will take part in National Lung Cancer Screening Day on November 14, 2026. Several other MaineHealth hospitals offer weekend hours for at-risk patients seeking low- or no-cost lung cancer screenings.
Why it matters
Lung cancer screening can identify disease early in eligible adults, and expanded weekend availability makes it easier for patients to fit screenings into their schedules. Patients must first be referred by their provider if they meet eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for lung cancer screening covers adults aged 50 to 80 who quit smoking within the past 15 years. MaineHealth serves 1.1 million residents across Maine and New Hampshire, but the source does not say how many eligible patients are currently being screened.
The players
MaineHealth
MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system serving Maine and New Hampshire with about 2,000 employed providers and 25,000 care team members.
MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital
MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital is a community hospital in Rockport, Maine, that participates in National Lung Cancer Screening Day and offers screenings seven days a week.
MaineHealth Waldo Hospital
MaineHealth Waldo Hospital is a hospital in Belfast, Maine, that participates in National Lung Cancer Screening Day and provides weekday lung cancer screenings.
The details
Patients who meet eligibility criteria can be referred for lung cancer screening by their provider. Screenings are offered at no cost or low cost on weekends at several hospitals, while Maine Medical Center Portland, Lincoln, Mid Coast, Pen Bay and York offer screenings on most days of the week.
Timeline
November 14, 2026: National Lung Cancer Screening Day, with Pen Bay and Waldo hospitals participating.
November 15, 2026: Additional lung cancer screenings available at Pen Bay Hospital.
Big Picture
Lung cancer screening programs tied to National Lung Cancer Screening Day have become a recurring way for health systems to promote early detection in eligible adults. MaineHealth's weekend and multi-site offerings extend that observance into routine access across its hospital network.
Eligible patients aged 50 to 80 who have quit smoking within the past 15 years should ask their provider for a referral. Weekend screening hours at several MaineHealth hospitals may allow patients to schedule without missing work.
The takeaway
If you are between 50 and 80 and have quit smoking within the past 15 years, ask your provider whether you qualify for lung cancer screening. Several MaineHealth hospitals offer low- or no-cost screenings on weekends.
What happens next
National Lung Cancer Screening Day takes place on November 14, 2026, with additional Pen Bay screenings on November 15, 2026.
Further reading
For more on screening and prevention, see the Cancer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by PenBay Pilot.
