Mad River Hospital Offers Free Mammograms to Humboldt Women 40 and Older

Humboldt County women 40 and older who are uninsured or underinsured can now get free breast imaging at Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata, including screening mammograms, diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds. The program is funded by Humboldt Trinity Healthcare and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, runs through December 31, 2026, and is first-come, first-served for patients whose household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.

The hospital is using 3D mammography technology onsite, a detail that matters in a county where a missed screening can quickly become a bigger medical and financial problem. Hospital leaders say the program is meant to meet women where they are, especially rural residents who may be deciding between a medical appointment, gas money or groceries. Steve Engle, vice president of Humboldt Trinity Healthcare, has said too many women in low-income communities put off a mammogram because the upfront cost feels out of reach.

That barrier carries local consequences. Live Well Humboldt lists Humboldt County’s female breast cancer incidence at 116 cases per 100,000 females, a rate that places the county in the better half of California counties but still leaves breast cancer as a steady public-health concern. State Cancer Profiles lists California’s breast cancer incidence rate at 125.6 per 100,000 females, underscoring how common the disease remains statewide.

The free screening offer also lines up with national guidance. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends biennial mammography for women ages 40 to 74, a recommendation that has helped shape the age range used by the local program. Public-health officials have also noted that screening access can be harder for women in rural areas, where distance, transportation and limited clinic availability can keep preventive care out of reach.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation says its National Mammography Program provides free mammograms and diagnostic breast care services to underserved women nationwide. In Humboldt County, that national support is now filtering down to a local hospital in Arcata, where the goal is simple: remove the cost barrier before a delayed screening turns into a more dangerous diagnosis.