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US: Idaho hospital antitrust ruling upheld by 9th Circuit

By  |  February 12, 2015

St. Luke’s Medical Center violated a federal antitrust law when it acquired Saltzer Medial Group, the 9th Circuit affirmed.

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    The 2012 merger by the two Idaho-based health care providers drew fire from the Federal Trade Commission and Idaho, and that action for an injunction was later consolidated with a separate suit brought by competing hospitals.

    The lawsuit also alleged that the merger would raise the cost of health care.

    The 9th Circuit affirmed Tuesday, saying the lower court’s factual findings “adequately support its ultimate conclusion that the plaintiffs established ‘a prima facie case that the acquisition is anti-competitive.’”

    St. Luke’s failed to persuade the lower court that the merger would lead to efficiencies that would positively effect competition.

    Full Content: Courthouse News Service

     

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