BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Attorneys for the Federal Trade Commission say that if the Boise-based St. Luke's Regional Medical Center is allowed to purchase another medical group it will control almost 80 percent of the primary care providers in Nampa.

The Idaho Statesman reports the attorneys made the arguments to a federal judge during opening statements Monday in a lawsuit between the FTC, the Boise-based Saint Alphonsus Health System and St. Luke's. Saint Alphonsus and the FTC say St. Luke's buyout of Saltzer Medical Group was an illegal market-grab that hinders competition.

But St. Luke's attorney Jack Bierig says that's not the case. Bierig told the judge the Saltzer deal would help St. Luke's launch a new health insurance product, help low-income and uninsured patients get preventative care and provide other benefits.

More From 95.7 KEZJ