Saving Lives and Saving Money: The Role of North Carolina Health Departments in Medicaid Managed Care.

A new Medicaid system is emerging in North Carolina in which accountable care organizations will aim to improve both the quality and value of health care. We explore how local health departments can apply their expertise in population health to help achieve these goals.

Coughing up answers: a community's response to pertussis.

Pertussis is a highly contagious but vaccine-preventable disease. In spite of relatively high immunization rates, the number of cases continues to rise. A recent outbreak of pertussis in Alamance County, North Carolina, led to changes in response efforts and improved communication among partners, but it also left public health workers with many unanswered questions.