SPRINGFIELD -- The three most populous states in a recently settled 29-state lawsuit with pharmacy benefits manager Caremark Rx look to have carved up a hefty slice of the settlement.

Caremark agreed last week to pay 29 attorneys-general, led by Illinois' Lisa Madigan, $38.5 million to settle deceptive business practice charges. The AGs allege Caremark encouraged doctors and patients to switch drugs without disclosing the full financial impact of such a move.

Of the $38.5 million total, $22 million is earmarked for lowering drug costs and assisting low-income patients while $16 million is to cover investigative expenses and consumer education.

Madigan announced last week that Illinois would receive about $1.26 million as its share of the $22 million, or 5.7 percent, and $1.75 million from the $16 million (11 percent) Caremark will pay. "[P]harmacy benefit managers must fulfill their role of negotiating the most affordable prescription drugs for consumers and their health plans," Madigan stated.

California will receive $3.4 million from the first settlement fund while Texas will snag $2.5 million, the states' AGs announced last week. That means the settlement's three largest states will garner $7.1 million of that fund's $22 million, or just under one-third.

Other large states in the suit included Massachusetts, Florida and Pennsylvania.