By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – The pharmacy-benefits manager Express Scripts has agreed to pay more than $9 million dollars to 28 states for misleading consumers about cholesterol drugs.
The St. Louis-based company processes insurance claims for prescriptions, and negotiates bulk discounts with drug makers.
Attorneys general from the states alleged Express encouraged doctors to switch patients' cholesterol drug brands under the guise of cost control.
Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon said the company deceived doctors into thinking the move would save patients money, but instead pocketed the difference.
Express Scripts said it would need to make "only minor adjustments" in its practices to comply with the settlement, and it was not required to admit any wrongdoing.
The states will split most of the settlement. The few thousand patients affected will get no more than $25 each to cover tests and extra doctor visits.