Childhood lead poisoning and managed care.

Childhood lead poisoning is a problem that disproportionately affects impoverished children. Many aspects of affected children's lives may be involved in the prevention and treatment of this disease. Changes in child health services are occurring in the context of fundamental changes of virtually all human services. Managed care changes may alter the sites where children get primary care services, the content of that care, and linkages of medical services to public health, nutrition support, housing, mental health, education, and social services. This article discusses the opportunities and the dangers that managed care changes may pose to the prevention and treatment of childhood lead poisoning.