BOSTON (AP) – Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts has agreed to pay $9.5 million in an agreement with 28 states over switching patients’ cholesterol drug brands to control costs.

St. Louis-based Express Scripts Inc. said Tuesday it would pay $9.3 million of the total to the states and the District of Columbia to settle litigation by attorneys general alleging violations of consumer protection laws. Another $200,000 will cover payments of no more than $25 apiece to individual patients for physician visits and tests linked to switches between rival brands of cholesterol-controlling drugs known as statins.

The states alleged that Express Scripts deceived consumers about its practice of switching certain patients from one brand name drug to another medication that treats the same condition.

In addition to the settlement payments, Express Scripts is required to comply with disclosure standards for drug switches.

The company says it will only need to make minor adjustments to comply with the settlement.