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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem announced that the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota today issued a preliminary injunction blocking the proposed merger between Sanford Health and Mid Dakota Clinic until the Federal Trade Commission administrative hearing scheduled in January 2018.

North Dakota and the FTC alleged that the merger would substantially lessen competition for adult primary care, pediatric, obstetrics & gynecology, and general surgical services in the Bismarck-Mandan area, and cause significant harm to consumers. The magistrate judge held a four-day hearing on the joint motion for preliminary injunction, receiving over 1600 exhibits and hearing testimony from sixteen witnesses, before issuing today’s order.

“Competition in the marketplace benefits consumers, including when that competition is for medical care,” said Stenehjem. “I am very pleased with the Court’s decision and feel confident that the Court recognized the potential negative consequences for patients in the Bismarck-Mandan area. Today’s decision is in the best interests of the community.”