One of the big reasons why health care is so expensive is because many hospitals have near-monopoly pricing power in their local markets. Even so, it's been hard for the government's antitrust agencies to block these mergers, because the courts have sided with the hospitals against the government. Today, from Illinois, we learn of some promising news: two hospitals have abandoned plans to merge, following a challenge from the Federal Trade Commission. Could this be a turning point in the war against hospital monopolies?