Officials from St. Luke's Health System say they will not pursue a U.S. Supreme Court challenge to a federal judge's ruling that its purchase of Saltzer Medical Group violated antitrust laws.
The Idaho Statesman reports that St. Luke's CEO David Pate and board Chairman Skip Oppenheimer wrote in a letter to employees Thursday that they respect the Ninth Circuit Court's decision and are working to separate the two companies.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled Monday for the Boise-area hospital to disclose its separation plan from the independent physician's practice. Winmill ruled that the buyout violated antitrust laws.
Saint Alphonsus Health System and Treasure Valley Hospital sued the two parties in 2012, arguing that the buyout would result in St. Luke's dominating the primary-care market in the Nampa area.