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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Let's lower the voting age and see some progress
Herald opinion writers Vivienne Skinner and Brad Emery discussed the pros and cons of lowering the voting age to 16 in Australia after England's move to join Wales and Scotland (' Sixteen is sweet to step up to the polls', ' An interest in politics is great, but only adults should be allowed to vote ', July 23). I was delighted to read that independent MP Monique Ryan intends to bring a private member's bill to Parliament on this issue. Initially, I would support the vote for 16 and 17-year-olds to be voluntary, with a view to make it compulsory over time. Democracy worldwide is under pressure with elderly, self-serving leaders mainly concerned with holding on to power. In a world rapidly changing environmentally, socially and geopolitically, we have old men making decisions that will largely affect the young, who have no voice. This change would almost certainly increase the progressive vote, and may be why British PM Keir Starmer is putting it forward. It could work for Anthony Albanese, too. Now is the time to refresh our democracy and make our society as representative as the UK's. Andrew Caro, Greenwich While there are thoughtful arguments each way, my feeling is that 16 is too young. People such as Tanya Plibersek and Monique Ryan move in relatively select society in which politics is of interest and importance, so perhaps have a biased view of how much ability and interest the average 16-year-old has. There is also the maturity factor, which is not necessarily based on chronological age. Let them reach at least 18, while encouraging them to become politically aware and hopefully more able to make reasoned, logical, responsible decisions. Augusta Monro, Dural I must challenge columnist Brad Emery on his assertion that 16 and 17-year-olds are 'considered minors in every other regulatory contexts'. At 16, youths can legally have sex and bring children into the world (in most states) – one of the most important decisions of their lives. At 16, you can register as an organ donor, get an abortion, get married (with permission), get a learner's permit, apply for youth allowance, consent to medical and dental treatment, have your own Medicare card and work full-time. You only have to look at the 'School Strike 4 Climate' protests, in which thousands of youths took part, to see the commitment that young Australian have to civic duty. I believe that the voting age should be lowered to 16 now. Bruce Welch, Marrickville Australia has one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the Western world. If 10-year-olds can be tried as adults for crimes, then surely they should also be allowed to vote. Either they are capable of adult decisions, or they are not. Bart Fielden, Lindfield Marine tragedy The toxic algal bloom on South Australia's coastline should indeed be taken seriously (' Government all at sea on toxic algal bloom ', July 23). The Great Barrier Reef has already suffered several mass bleachings, largely due to ocean warming. Now a widespread algal bloom has put South Australia's Great Southern Reef under threat. It is heartbreaking to see the devastation of coastal treasures like the Coorong, which once had an abundance of thriving birdlife and wetland vegetation. Many readers will remember the iconic film Storm Boy, which was set in this location. Again, a marine heatwave was a major contributor. Environment Minister Murray Watt has finally decided to visit Adelaide with a pledge of $14 million to deal with the algal bloom disaster. But what's the point of Labor spending that money when at the same time it approves fossil fuel projects? The government must account for the effects of global warming when dealing with such disasters. Anne O'Hara, Wanniassa (ACT) Gender writes Correspondent Ryszard Linkiewicz claims fewer boys read books nowadays because male authors have been 'purged from reading lists' (Letters, July 23). But why should boys only be interested in stories written by men? At school, we girls read F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Joseph Conrad and other male authors. We read them despite the fact they were written by men, about men, with only the occasional one-dimensional female character to whom we might relate. It is sad that boys only have what Linkiewicz calls 'poorly written tripe' by the likes of Helen Garner, Kate Grenville, A.S. Byatt, Doris Lessing and other women. What a pity that, according to him, those whose 'literacy skills develop more slowly' can't find anything of interest in the works of such (female) giants of the literary canon. Gerianne Rudd, Toowong (Qld) There are several Australian male authors who are writing and publishing books now, all available to boys. I've just finished Mark Brandi's latest book Eden and have read his Wimmera and Southern Aurora, all of which have boys or men as the main characters, and are easy to read. Then there's also Tim Winton and Trent Dalton, plus Aaron Blabey with his graphic novels Bad Guys. The graphic novels in particular are a good way to encourage reading among boys and young men. Rosemary Wolf, Mount Warrigal Ryszard Linkiewicz notes that NSW schools have replaced distinguished authors with 'poorly written tripe'. I feel this has long been the case. Ryszard is lucky he didn't sit the HSC in 1970, when we studied such literary gems as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. So many hours of boredom. Trevor McCarroll, Gerringong No right to rule Yet more correspondents (Letters, July 23) resorting to disparaging statements such as 'sense of entitlement' and ' their right to rule' to attack Gisele Kapterian for exercising her right, on behalf of those who supported her, to ensure that in an incredibly close election, every voter's true intention is properly accounted for. That is the entitlement of every candidate in our elections, and our system was established to enable that to happen. No one in this country has a right to rule, and even if they thought they did, it would be only to govern, not rule, and face their electors every three years. Peter Thornton, Killara Reality lost The Israeli ambassador to Australia was very quick to admonish the Australian government, along with 27 other countries, for their call to end the Gaza war, saying they were 'disconnected from reality and it sends the wrong message to Hamas' (' Penny Wong: Israel condemnation channels Australians' 'distress' over Gaza ', July 22). He conveniently forgets the reality that this whole catastrophe would not have happened had it not been for the abject failure of the Israeli government, the IDF, the Shin Bet (internal security service) and Mossad to protect Israel citizens from the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Perhaps he's the one 'disconnected from reality', and no amount of killing people seeking humanitarian aid is going to change that. Alexis Lander, Kensington Definition dilemma I read closely the piece by Adam Slomin about the definition of antisemitism. (' Defining antisemitism is no threat to free speech. Without a definition, we are adrift ', July 23). Unfortunately, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of antisemitism would be more easily accepted if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu and his government also adopted that definition, instead of calling all criticism of Israel's policies and actions 'antisemitic'. If Israel cannot accept that definition as best practice, why should anyone else? Doug Richards, Tamarama I find it extraordinary that Herald correspondents should suggest that the best way to combat antisemitism is for Jews to publicly disassociate themselves from Israel (Letters, July 23). I doubt that these writers would say that Arabs or Muslims must publicly condemn Hamas, or the Syrian, Iranian, Saudi Arabian, Afghani or Indonesian regimes. What about Australians of Chinese, Russian or American origin or connections? Should they have to condemn 'their' regimes? Opposition to particular actions by Israeli settlers or the government is not antisemitic as many Jewish people and Israelis prove. But the ideas that the Jewish state is uniquely evil and that all Jews are implicated in everything it does are, and should be, roundly rejected. John Sexton, Centennial Park Chinese Australians aren't directed to 'unequivocally denounce the actions' of the Chinese government in Tibet or Xinjiang or against Taiwan to stop harassment and firebombing and graffiti of their businesses and cultural centres, Dave Bailey (Letters, July 23). Indonesian Australians aren't told to 'disassociate themselves from the worst things happening in' West Papua to stop doxxing and protests directed at them at universities or art performances, Jennifer Briggs. It's only Jewish Australians who apparently deserve to suffer persecution for the actions of a foreign state. Richard Abram, Bexley Victims of tobacco war On the illegal tobacco debate, I agree with the obvious premise that cigarettes cause harm, and cheap cigarettes keep people using them. But if the plan is simply to close down the illegal tobacco market, I worry for many habitual smokers on low incomes (' Eviction, jail and fines for illegal tobacco sellers', July 23). As a psychologist, I work with a number of people on disability support pensions who live with severe mental illnesses. Cigarettes are a part of their way of life, and they're just not interested in quitting. If they are forced to go back to highly taxed/priced legal cigarettes, they will forego food and other necessities in order to keep smoking. I've seen this happen. Even though they're well aware of the terrible health prospects, cigarettes nevertheless help many people to keep going. Sadly, they're not keen on patches or gum. So, whatever is done about illegal cigarettes, allowances need to be made for many on low incomes who will continue smoking regardless. Otherwise their quality of life and mental health will crash. Jim Filshie, Kingsgrove I hardly think any landlord is going to evict a retailer for selling illegal tobacco. I recall reading that these same sellers are offering landlords above market rates to rent their premises and with today's vacancy rates in strip retail shops, I'd suggest it would be a rarity to see any landlord evict a tenant for anything apart from rent arrears. Barb La Ganza, North Narrabeen I think that tough legislation and penalties is the right approach rather than lowering the tax rate on tobacco products. However, it remains to be seen if the words will be put into action. It has been more than eleven years since smoking was banned in all cafes and restaurants, and I have seen little evidence of enforcement. Reports to Health NSW and local councils achieve nothing. Bob Edgar, Moss Vale HECS anomaly Ross Gittins quite rightly points out the stupidity of the Morrison government's Job Ready program, which resulted in arts degrees costing $50,000 (' Cutting HECS debt is the least Albanese could do for young Australians ', July 23). Why the new Labor government hasn't changed this policy is a mystery. Reducing students' HECS debts by 20 per cent is a good start, but surely preventing future extreme and unfair tertiary debt must be on the agenda. As they say, 'it's a no brainer'. Eric Sekula, Turramurra While the government tinkers with HECS debts in a rather ineffective attempt to reduce financial burdens on the young, it is quite amazing that university education in EU countries like France, Germany and Sweden is almost free. Furthermore, living allowances are provided which reduce the need to work part-time. Governments there heavily subsidise universities and the considerable benefit is little disincentive for university study even for the relatively poor. These policies obviously do much to reduce inequality. The secret is of course higher average taxation and the realisation that university degrees will result in higher salaries and thus more tax being paid during a lifetime of work. Geoff Harding, Chatswood Tax outrage There are certainly valid arguments for a tax on high-value family homes (Letters, July 23), but the government also urgently needs to address the miserable contributions from the oil and gas industry, among others. According to The Australia Institute and despite the industry's insistence that it pays substantial tax, nurses paid $7 billion more tax during the past 10 years than oil and gas companies paid in company tax and Petroleum Resource Rent Tax. In short, nurses paid $52 billion and the oil and gas companies $45 billion. Finally, the oil and gas industry 'exports 80 per cent of Australia's gas, gets most of the gas it exports for free, is a small employer and pays little tax'. It is hoped that Jim Chalmers' economic summit will not be dominated by the usual rent seekers. Alison Stewart, Riverview Super changes The story in the Herald (' Average pay of $240k to be hit by super tax', July 23) outlines a number of scenarios for people who will be hit by Labor's superannuation tax changes. But what the report fails to mention is that both a husband and a wife can have $3 million each in super. It also doesn't ask the question 'why do people running a farm have the farm included in superannuation?' Also, many farming families also have trust accounts, thus decreasing their taxable income. It's all legal but not an option for the average Australian. If everyone wants the Labor government to enact the policies it took to the recent election, then the money has to be found from somewhere, particularly as companies are not reinvesting to create growth in the economy. Peter Nelson, Moss Vale Welfare state It has become all too apparent that Australian society is fast becoming a welfare state following many years of government handouts (' Australia risks becoming a 'welfare state', study warns ', July 23). In many instances, this has been initiated to win elections. While government support is appreciated by those with urgent or specific needs, far too many now see it as an easy alternative to employment and making a contribution to society. With government spending approaching 40 per cent of gross domestic product and the emphasis currently on how to increase productivity, the answer clearly lies within government itself. The issue of debt – private and government – must be addressed if productivity is to be increased, or, accept that peak productivity and economic growth has been reached. Efficiency is just not a private sector issue but also a government issue with ever-increasing public sector employment. Australia's standard of living cannot be totally reliant upon an ever- smaller private sector. Just look at the number of business failures over the past few years. Bruce Clydsdale, Bathurst Moved to tears Your story on Labor MP Ali France has to be one of the most moving pieces of journalism in a long, long time (' How Ali France's late son's words propelled her to parliament ', July 23). Her compassion and courage, which included both the loss of her son, in addition to her disability, are just phenomenal and reduced me to tears. I sincerely hope we hear a lot more from Ali for a long time to come. Rose Lysnar, Sherwood (Qld) Ali France's maiden speech was inspiring. Let's hope that the 48th parliament provides a safe, supportive workplace which embodies her values of service, fairness, kindness and perseverance. Viv Mackenzie, Port Hacking Ali France is a beacon of hope for the many Australians living with grief and/or disability. We now have a strong voice in federal parliament. Sending grateful thanks to the voters of Dickson. Margot Alaba, Balgowlah
West Australian
4 hours ago
- Health
- West Australian
Genea data breach: Patient fury as IVF giant confirms personal details, medical records published on dark web
Horrified patients who accessed fertility care through an IVF giant are speaking out as the company confirms their data, including personal data and sensitive medical records, has been published on the dark web. Genea, Australia's third-largest IVF and fertility provider, has reached out to patients with an email confirming the horrific extent of a data breach which has left them vulnerable to cybercriminals. In February, a third party acting as a 'treat actor' managed to access the company's systems, exposing data of patients, an investigation has revealed. That data includes full names, emails, addresses, phone numbers, Medicare card numbers, private health insurance details, defence DA number, medical record numbers, patient numbers, dates of birth, medical history, diagnoses and treatments, medications and prescriptions, patient health questionnaires, pathology and diagnostic test results, notes from doctors and specialists, appointment details and schedules, emergency contacts and next of kin. It is understood that not each impacted patient had the same data breached. Confirming that the breached data had been published, Genea chief executive Tim Yeoh said: 'The publication has occurred on a part of the dark web, which is a hidden part of the internet.' 'This data is not readily searchable or accessible.' Genea says it has now 'concluded its investigation' into the incident. 'We are now starting to communicate with individuals about the findings from our investigation that are relevant to them, and the steps and support measures in place to help them protect their personal information,' a Genea spokesperson told The Nightly. 'Genea expects to communicate with all impacted individuals over the coming weeks. 'We deeply regret that personal information was accessed and published and sincerely apologise for any concern this incident may have caused.' Emails sent to patients also included an apology, where Genea said: 'We unreservedly apologise for any distress that this may cause you.' It is understood this communication began up to two weeks ago, with many patients impacted speaking about about the ordeal. 'There is genetic information which really affects my family. There is information about mental health. It's your whole history,' the ABC reported a former patient saying after the received an email. Another impacted patient said they couldn't understand what Genea had been doing in the five months between the hack and the individual emails to those affected. 'The communication from Genea on this data breach has been appalling,' the woman told News Corp . 'We only found out about this data breach from an email notification at 11pm on last Friday, outside of business hours and telling impacted patients there was nobody available to respond to questions and concerns until 9am on Monday. 'The fact the breach occurred in February, and we are only now being notified, five months on, for the very first time that sensitive information such as our driver's licence, Medicare number, private health insurance number, all of which can be used for identify fraud, was stolen and is on the dark web is utterly unacceptable. 'What have they been doing for the past five months?' Genea has set up a 'dedicated call centre and email service' to offer 'support' to those impacted. 'We have partnered with IDCARE, Australia's national identity and cyber support service, which provides counselling and other services at no cost if patients wish to seek further support,' the cyber incident page on the Genea website says. It also tells impacted patients to 'be extra careful' with suspicious emails, texts or calls and 'remain vigilant' as identity theft could occur. Genea say there was no evidence the hackers stole financial information such as credit card details or bank account numbers. An international ransomware group published what it claimed was a sample of the confidential data after the attack forced Genea to shut down for several days. The group claiming responsibility reportedly posted screenshots on dark net sites, boasting it had captured hundreds of gigabytes of patient data dating back more than five years. 'We understand this news may be concerning for you,' Mr Yeo wrote to customers in the latest round of communication. Genea has not said how many customers have been impacted, claiming they are unable to provide this information due to an ongoing AFP investigation. Mr Yeo said Genea had undertaken a comprehensive analysis of the published stolen details to identify those impacted by the breach and the personal information relating to them. The provider has been granted a court-ordered injunction to prevent anyone from accessing, using, disseminating or publishing any of the illegally obtained data. - With AAP
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Patients horrified as IVF data published on dark web
Horrified patients who accessed fertility care through an IVF giant are speaking out as the company confirms their data, including personal data and sensitive medical records, has been published on the dark web. Genea, Australia's third-largest IVF and fertility provider, has reached out to patients with an email confirming the horrific extent of a data breach which has left them vulnerable to cybercriminals. In February, a third party acting as a 'treat actor' managed to access the company's systems, exposing data of patients, an investigation has revealed. That data includes full names, emails, addresses, phone numbers, Medicare card numbers, private health insurance details, defence DA number, medical record numbers, patient numbers, dates of birth, medical history, diagnoses and treatments, medications and prescriptions, patient health questionnaires, pathology and diagnostic test results, notes from doctors and specialists, appointment details and schedules, emergency contacts and next of kin. It is understood that not each impacted patient had the same data breached. Confirming that the breached data had been published, Genea chief executive Tim Yeoh said: 'The publication has occurred on a part of the dark web, which is a hidden part of the internet.' Genea Credit: Instagram 'This data is not readily searchable or accessible.' Genea says it has now 'concluded its investigation' into the incident. 'We are now starting to communicate with individuals about the findings from our investigation that are relevant to them, and the steps and support measures in place to help them protect their personal information,' a Genea spokesperson told The Nightly. 'Genea expects to communicate with all impacted individuals over the coming weeks. 'We deeply regret that personal information was accessed and published and sincerely apologise for any concern this incident may have caused.' Emails sent to patients also included an apology, where Genea said: 'We unreservedly apologise for any distress that this may cause you.' It is understood this communication began up to two weeks ago, with many patients impacted speaking about about the ordeal. 'There is genetic information which really affects my family. There is information about mental health. It's your whole history,' the ABC reported a former patient saying after the received an email. Another impacted patient said they couldn't understand what Genea had been doing in the five months between the hack and the individual emails to those affected. 'The communication from Genea on this data breach has been appalling,' the woman told News Corp. 'We only found out about this data breach from an email notification at 11pm on last Friday, outside of business hours and telling impacted patients there was nobody available to respond to questions and concerns until 9am on Monday. 'The fact the breach occurred in February, and we are only now being notified, five months on, for the very first time that sensitive information such as our driver's licence, Medicare number, private health insurance number, all of which can be used for identify fraud, was stolen and is on the dark web is utterly unacceptable. 'What have they been doing for the past five months?' Genea has set up a 'dedicated call centre and email service' to offer 'support' to those impacted. 'We have partnered with IDCARE, Australia's national identity and cyber support service, which provides counselling and other services at no cost if patients wish to seek further support,' the cyber incident page on the Genea website says. It also tells impacted patients to 'be extra careful' with suspicious emails, texts or calls and 'remain vigilant' as identity theft could occur. Genea say there was no evidence the hackers stole financial information such as credit card details or bank account numbers. An international ransomware group published what it claimed was a sample of the confidential data after the attack forced Genea to shut down for several days. The group claiming responsibility reportedly posted screenshots on dark net sites, boasting it had captured hundreds of gigabytes of patient data dating back more than five years. 'We understand this news may be concerning for you,' Mr Yeo wrote to customers in the latest round of communication. Genea has not said how many customers have been impacted, claiming they are unable to provide this information due to an ongoing AFP investigation. Mr Yeo said Genea had undertaken a comprehensive analysis of the published stolen details to identify those impacted by the breach and the personal information relating to them. The provider has been granted a court-ordered injunction to prevent anyone from accessing, using, disseminating or publishing any of the illegally obtained data. - With AAP
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Worried about Social Security cuts? 3 things to do now if you're already retired
For years, there have been rumors that Social Security is on the brink of bankruptcy. Thankfully, things aren't quite that dire. Social Security cannot go broke and run out of money because it's primarily funded by payroll taxes. This means that as long as people continue to work and pay into the program, Social Security can continue to pay benefits in some shape or form. However, the latest report by the Social Security Trustees makes it abundantly clear that benefit cuts may soon be on the table. In the coming years, Social Security won't collect enough payroll tax revenue to keep up with its financial obligations due to a shrinking workforce. It can tap its trust funds to keep up with benefits, but once those funds are depleted, Social Security may have to implement cuts. And with the program's combined trust funds set to run out of money in 2034, the time to accept the possibility of benefit cuts — and plan for them — is now. If you're still working, that means boosting contributions to your 401(k) or IRA so you have more personal savings to rely on for retirement. But if you're already retired, you'll need to take a different approach. Here are a few things to do now to cope with potential Social Security cuts. 1. Assess your spending, and try to reduce your expenses You may think you're living a pretty frugal lifestyle already if you get most of your retirement income from Social Security. But if you take a close look at your spending, you may find that there are small but meaningful opportunities to cut back on expenses and bank a little savings. That could mean more carefully reviewing your Medicare options each year to find a lower-cost plan. Or, it could mean canceling a few services or subscriptions you don't use as much as you once did. It could help to set up an actual budget so you're aware of how you spend every retirement dollar that comes in. 2. See if you can get some type of job — even if it's not a traditional one If you've been out of the labor force for a while, going back to work might seem daunting. And depending on your health and physical condition, it may be difficult to take a traditional job, even if it's only part-time. Since Social Security cuts aren't happening tomorrow, you have some time to explore your options. Maybe there's a part-time job you can do that isn't too physically demanding and puts a little money in your pocket. Or maybe you'll have success in the gig economy. It pays to see what's out there if you're worried that a reduction in your Social Security checks will leave you unable to pay your bills. 3. Look into downsizing and converting home equity to income If you don't have much in the way of retirement savings, your home might be your most valuable financial asset at this stage of life. Downsizing and pocketing the equity could make it possible to withstand a hit to your Social Security. Imagine your home is paid off in full and worth $300,000. If you're able to find a replacement home that's smaller for $200,000, that's $100,000 of equity you can walk away with, minus the costs associated with selling a home. It could be enough to provide you with a cushion so you're able to cope with reduced Social Security benefits. Plus, if you downsize into a smaller home, you might pay less in the form of property taxes, insurance, maintenance and utilities. That, too, could help you manage a reduction to your Social Security checks. It's not a given that Social Security will be cutting benefits once its trust funds run out of money. Lawmakers have some options they can explore to prevent that unwanted scenario. But it's important to brace for Social Security cuts regardless, and to immediately start taking steps to conserve funds in case your monthly checks shrink down the line. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook Offer from the Motley Fool: If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets"could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. JoinStock Advisorto learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" »
Malaysian Reserve
15 hours ago
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Manali A. Shendrikar, MD, MPH Is the Latest Physician from Saint John's Physician Partners to Offer the Hybrid Choice™ Concierge Program from Concierge Choice Physicians
Leading not-for-profit healthcare organization in greater Los Angeles allows patients to choose a closer doctor-patient relationship ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y., July 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the nation's leading full-service concierge medical service provider, announces today that Manali A. Shendrikar, MD, MPH, from Santa Monica Family Physicians, is the newest doctor in Saint John's Physician Partners (SJPP), part of Providence, to now offer CCP's Hybrid Choice™ program. This enhanced practice experience provides patients with greater connectivity and support from their chosen doctor. Unlike conventional concierge programs, CCP's Hybrid Choice program is a unique style of membership medicine that works well in large healthcare organizations like SJPP. It allows physicians to provide the highest level of service to just those patients who want it, while continuing to see and care for all of the patients in their network. Patients are able to choose the practice experience they want. No patients are ever turned away, and the physicians continue to accept insurance and Medicare. The program is also being used to improve physician satisfaction and support medical practices with much-needed additional revenue. A portion of the revenue generated from membership fees supports St. John's charitable mission to serve all, especially the most poor and vulnerable. 'I want to be the go-to doctor for my patients—but that's not something that can be promised in such a demanding healthcare marketplace,' says Dr. Shendrikar. 'This program allows patients to secure that kind of connectivity. It's a great option for many patients who feel they would benefit from the peace of mind that comes from knowing they will always see me at appointments. I'm looking forward to practicing in this more personalized style.' Patients who enroll in Dr. Shendrikar's Hybrid Choice program pay an annual fee that allows her to provide services that go beyond what is typically offered in a traditional practice, including: more time together; a greater focus on wellness with a comprehensive annual exam and specialty lab work; relaxed, easy-to-secure appointments that generally start on time; convenient and direct ways to communicate with Dr. Shendrikar both at the office and after hours; enhanced medical advocacy; and coordination with other healthcare professionals. Dr. Manali A. Shendrikar practices at Santa Monica Family Physicians, 2021 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 625E, Santa Monica, CA 90404. Her Hybrid Choice program is available for an annual membership fee. For more information on the program or to join, contact Concierge Choice Physicians at (877) 888-5590 or email members@ About Manali A. Shendrikar, MD, MPHDr. Shendrikar is an experienced, board-certified family medicine physician. She graduated medical school at the University of Texas, Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX and completed her residency at Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center, in Santa Monica, CA. About Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP)Dedicated to providing real options for patients and physicians, Concierge Choice Physicians™ is the largest private provider of the full range of concierge programs available today—Hybrid and FullFlex™. The company provides innovative, flexible and affordable models proven to work in medical practices of any size—from solo physicians to large medical practice corporations—both independent and affiliated with hospitals or health systems. Headquartered in Rockville Centre, NY, the company has worked with thousands of physicians in 35 states. For more information, please visit
