This is part of the new health care plan (seriously).

President Obama met with big pharma in the whitehouse back in July 2009 and cut a deal to never bargain for lower prices and to block Canadian imports. This was to bow down to big-pharma so they would not fight the policy changes, because they had the billions in profit to lobby for eternity to prevent changes from happening.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/health/policy/06insure.htm...

So import all the made-in-china gadgets you want, but big-pharma gets protections from any US citizen being able to afford their medication. And now the government is obligated to fine/sue anyone who tries to help you get a discount with imported prescriptions, to protect big-pharma.

Part of the continuing "negotiate starting from the middle" tactic from the whitehouse, ie. give in before you even start to bargain.

"U.S. citizens order from Canadian and overseas pharmacies to get cheaper prices on medicine, though it’s illegal even with a prescription or for drugs not available in the I.S.[sic]"

It is illegal for a US citizen to order non-US drugs. WTF???

$500 Million seems utterly excessive to me. Usually they do consent agreements and only if the party violates it do they go after fines.

Indeed. It seems very extortionist to me! How is this every going to stop online pharmacies serving (what seems to be the legitimate) needs of consumers?

Given that it against the law to not give money to the health insurance industry, it should not be surprising that it is also against the law to not give money to the pharmaceutical industry.