BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - A total of 16 cariology practices have agreed to pay a total of nearly $17.7 million to resolve allegations that they each violated the False Claims Act, including a practice in Warren County.

The United States Attorney's Office, Western District of Kentucky provided a release Friday stating the government alleges that the settling cardiology practices regularly reported inflated acquisition costs to Medicare for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals.

According to officials, these drugs are used to diagnose and sometimes treat some cancers and diseases. In multiple states, officials say Medicare Part B reimburses healthcare providers for these drugs based on a provider's acquisition cost.

In those areas, the release says Medicare's contractors have published guidance on reimbursement and providers' obligation to "accurately report their invoice costs for diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals."

Officials say the inflated acquisition costs reported occurred for at least a year, and in some cases, the conduct extended over a period of more than a decade.

The settling medical practices and associated physicians have agreed to pay the following amounts, according to the release:

News 40 will provide additional information as it becomes available.