Supreme Court to review Phoebe Putney purchase of Palmyra

The U.S. Supreme Court said it will decide whether states can block antitrust scrutiny of hospital mergers such as Phoebe Putney Health System Inc.'s acquisition of Palmyra Park Hospital in Georgia. The justices today said they will hear the Federal Trade Commission's appeal of a U.S. appellate court ruling that the proposed purchase of HCA Inc.-owned Palmyra, based in Albany, Georgia, could be carried out over the agency's objections. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the Georgia state legislature granted antitrust immunity to the deal, trumping the FTC's assertion that the acquisition would result in too few healthcare options for Albany residents.