(December 22, 2015, 12:12 PM EST) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thirty-two hospitals across 15 states will pay a total of $28 million to settle allegations that they improperly billed Medicare for inpatient kyphoplasty procedure rather than less costly outpatient service for the minimally invasive procedure, according to a Dec. 18 press release from the Health and Human Services inspector general.

Kyphoplasty is a procedure that treats osteoporosis-related spinal fractures and can often be performed safely and effectively as an outpatient procedure, according to the inspector general release. The inspector general says the settlement...