US: St. Luke’s asks for rehearing in antitrust case

St. Luke’s Health System has asked for a rehearing in the antitrust case involving its acquisition of Saltzer Medical Group. According to court documents filed Thursday, St. Luke’s argues that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in February against the merger didn’t properly allow St. Luke’s to argue that the merger would provide better-quality care.

In 2012, St. Luke’s announced it would acquire the Nampa-based Saltzer Medical Group. Saint Alphonsus Health System and Treasure Valley Hospital filed a complaint to stop the merger and were later joined by the Federal Trade Commission and the state of Idaho, who had also sued.

Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled in January 2014 that the acquisition violated the Clayton Act and the Idaho Competition Act. Winmill noted in his opinion that St. Luke’s and Saltzer genuinely intended to improve the health care system with the merger, but that it still created a risk of anticompetitive price increases.

St. Luke’s appealed the decision, but the 9th Circuit upheld Winmill’s ruling in February 2015. In its appeal filed last week, St. Luke’s also argues that the 9th Circuit’s decision conflicts with another ruling for determining boundaries of a geographic market.

Full Content: Idaho Press-Tribune

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