Geelong
Friday, 28 March, 2014
Connecting people and communities
THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2 GIVEAWAY P2 Bulk-billing crisis
BUCKETS & BOUQUETS PAGE 11
Priced out of health checks By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN PEOPLE who might have serious illnesses are beginning to “fall through the cracks� in Geelong, a leading health services provider warned this week. Lake Imaging director Craig Lightfoot said financial pressures on the health system meant bulk-billing was no longer viable for private radiology providers. Mr Lightfoot said private providers were referring patients to public hospitals, which also faced funding pressures and growing waiting lists. “The public services are also referring patients to private providers where costs are higher and people are falling between the cracks,� he said. “It’s a really bad situation.� Mr Lightfoot said government funding shortfalls and cost-shifting were forcing private medical imaging services to pass on rising costs. “We all want quality health care but people will have to con-
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SCOTT WARY OF BRISBANE INDY SPORT Sophia so good for a rising star GEELONG’S Sophia Katos, pictured, has come a long way from the darling daughter of a fishmonger family. After acing high school with a VCE score of 99.5, the local beauty has built a solid career as both a singer and an actor. Now she’s about to show her skills on stage in Baz Luhrmann’s musical production of Strictly Ballroom. “The opportunity to play a leading role is so exciting,� Sophia tells the new edition of Geelong Coast magazine (GC). “It will be big and bold. I can’t wait to get the chance to improvise and explore the role.� Available now at good newsagents, GC is the region’s best glossy lifestyle magazines, full of stories about local people, places, issues and ideas. Picture: PETER KAKALIAS
TRUDY McINTOSH OLYMPIAN’S GREAT CIRCUS HEIGHTS
tribute to the cost of it. The days of free health care are well and truly over,� he said. “Medicare indexation has not kept up in radiology. A CT scan today is funded the same as it was 15 years ago, which leaves people about $60 out of pocket. “What we chose to do was bulk-bill most concession card holders, accounting for about 50 per cent of patients in Geelong, so we don’t charge the gap but accept the Medicare payment for that service. But the lack of indexation means we can’t continue to run a practice without passing on the cost. “Middle Australia is getting it in the neck by having to pay more and more for their radiology,� Mr Lightfoot said. “It’s getting to the stage now where we are no longer bulk-billing patients and concession card holders have to pay the gap. “The breast clinic in Gheringhap St has got to the point where we cannot bulk-bill anyone. Continued Page 7
GEORGE MORRISON ADVENTURER, LOTHARIO AND LEGEND
FAIR COP THREE WOMEN KEEPING THE PEACE
LOCAL LOVE THE UNION OF LAURA AND MATT
FACE OFF ARTIST STEVE SALO FINDS INSPIRATION IN DEVASTATION
AUTUMN 2014 AUS $5.50 (inc GST)
Sophia KATOS INTELLECT, TALENT AND A STAR ON THE RISE
OUT NOW: The new edition of GC, with Sophia on the cover.
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