More than 150 GPs who simply ignored threats by Medicare compliance officers about co-claiming attendance and mental health treatment items will not be investigated, it has been revealed.

The specialty kicked back after learning 341 GPs were warned to “review and act now” on their claims amid concerns they were abusing Medicare.

But when grilled by politicians last week, senior Department of Health officials said the GPs who did not respond to the letters would be left alone.

“Those that don’t respond, we’ll keep an eye on their claiming patterns to see whether there’s been any change or whether there might be an ongoing concern, but otherwise we won’t take any further action,” Department of Health first assistant secretary Daniel McCabe said.