HCA’s Deal to Buy Steward’s Utah Hospitals on Hold After Order

The Federal Trade Commission won court approval for a temporary restraining order to pause HCA Healthcare’s proposed acquisition of Steward Health Care System’s five hospitals in Utah.

Judge Tena Campbell’s Monday order prevents the companies from consummating their deal until ten days after the US District Court for the District of Utah rules on the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction or sets a different date, according to the order.

The deal between the two regional competitors would increase market concentration and hurt competition, the agency alleged in its complaint. Nashville-based HCA and Dallas-based Steward are the second and fourth-largest ...