For healthcare providers: Supporting patients in lung cancer screening
The role of healthcare providers
Healthcare providers play a crucial role in the delivery and success of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program, by identifying and enrolling eligible patients aged 50 to 70, with a history of smoking a pack a day – around 20 cigarettes or more – for at least 30 years of smoking, who are either currently smoking or quit within the past 10 years.
Visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website to find out more about support for healthcare providers, eligibility criteria, screening pathway, the NLCSP-specific Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items, associated reporting requirements and how to get involved.
Supporting your patients
Healthcare providers can leverage the Healthcare Provider Portal or integrated clinical software to make it easier to track, remind, and follow up with patients to support improved outcomes.
The NCSR will support the lung program by:
- Managing participant information and sending reminders to eligible participants about their lung cancer screening
- Providing healthcare providers with access to participants’ screening histories, excluding low-dose CT scan images
- Supporting mandatory reporting for radiologists to ensure accurate and consistent recording of lung cancer screening data
- Providing comprehensive data to enable program monitoring and evaluation, supporting the identification of opportunities for continuous improvement
Improved access to patient screening information is vital for facilitating meaningful conversations to highlight the life-saving potential of early detection and address any concerns about the screening process.
The NCSR's digital channels enables healthcare providers to securely access and submit comprehensive screening information for the lung cancer screening program.
By incorporating these channels into your workflow, you're not just improving practice efficiency — you're contributing to a nationwide effort to reduce deaths from lung cancer.
Information about a patient’s demographics and screening results held within the NCSR is used to apply the correct screening pathway.
To help the NCSR provide a safety net for the screening programs, healthcare providers can update their patient’s details and submit clinical information via integrated clinical software or the Healthcare Provider Portal, alternatively PDF forms are available below.
These channels are designed to make it easier to update your patient’s record to make sure they receive appropriate care and avoid unnecessary follow-ups. Delegate access can also be granted to practice staff.
You can submit the following forms and reports for the lung cancer screening program:
- Eligibility and Enrolment Form: Assess your patient’s suitability for lung cancer screening and, if eligible, complete to enrol them in the program. This form only needs to be submitted once
- Participation Management Form: Update your patient’s program status after each follow-up scan – confirm eligibility, record an opt-out, or note a clinical recommendation to stop screening
- Biopsy Adverse Events Form (if needed): Report any adverse events following a biopsy related to screening
- Specialist Referral Form: Refer patients with a high-risk result to a respiratory physician or specialist. Supports timely diagnosis and follow-up care
- Diagnosis Form: Confirms the clinical diagnosis. Informs program pathways (e.g. screening interval or exiting the program), appropriate care, and contributes to national program monitoring