St. Luke’s Violates Antitrust Laws, Rules Court

BOISE (KTVB) -- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that determined St. Luke's Health System's acquisition of Nampa-based Saltzer Medical Group violated federal antitrust laws.

The appeals court in a 37-page decision released Tuesday upheld U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill's ruling in January 2014 that the buyout needed to be unwound because it's likely the deal would raise health care costs by giving the hospital a dominant market position.

Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Treasure Valley Hospital, the Federal Trade Commission, and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden in 2012 filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the acquisition.

Idaho officials say the next step in the process is for St. Luke's Health System's acquisition to be undone.