St. Luke’s Wants Ruling Reversed on Doctors Group Buyout

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Boise-area hospital and Idaho's largest independent physicians' practice are seeking to reverse a federal judge's ruling that their joining forces violated federal antitrust laws. St. Luke's Health System and Nampa-based Saltzer Medical Group on Tuesday filed a motion in U.S. District Court in Boise to stay the court ruling pending an appeal. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in January ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and the Federal Trade Commission. They argued the buyout was an illegal market grab giving St. Luke's an unfair advantage. St. Luke's says its acquisition of Saltzer Medical Group will improve patient care. St. Luke's in its court filing asks that its purchase of Saltzer Medical Group remain in place pending an appeal of Winmill's ruling.