Medicare will claw back around $27 million from 115 doctors dealt with by the Professional Services Review in the last financial year — with three cases involving possible fraud.

The watchdog’s annual report reveals the doctors were typically scrutinised over their claims for chronic disease management, health assessment and mental health items — as well as general consultations and prescribing of antibiotics and opioids.

Common themes included a failure to keep adequate records, provide sufficient clinical justification for the services claimed or meet Medicare requirements for claimed items.

“The director and associate directors frequently observed brief records that did not include important clinical information, such as a relevant patient history, any examination results or the intended management plan,” the report stated.