Law360, New York (September 5, 2014, 10:46 AM EDT) -- Increasingly in important antitrust cases, parties weigh in with amicus briefs to try to illuminate important issues. The Federal Trade Commission's challenge to the St. Luke's Health System merger, currently before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the most important pending healthcare antitrust case, drew a chorus of briefs on both sides and for good reason — the case will speak volumes about whether the antitrust laws will hinder the ability of provider integration to produce higher quality, lower cost health care. And a careful analysis of the briefs suggests why those who care about health care reform should be very concerned that the FTC's action and the district court's decision have set us off on an unwise course.[1]...