In the health care industry, many medical facilities are organized as not-for-profit entities and, thus, not subject to the FTC's rule.

"Overall, the public interest is best served by Novant being permitted to own and operate LNR and Davis, pending the conclusion of the FTC administrative process," wrote U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell of the Western District of North Carolina.

A private equity firm accused of trying to build a monopoly in radiology was dismissed as a defendant in an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission against U.S. Anesthesia Partners in Texas.

"These are multisided giants that are accumulating assets at an alarming rate and are becoming the new intermediaries and gatekeepers of our health care system," said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Jonathan Kanter.

"First, in my mind, the plain text of the FTC Act clearly gives the agency the authority to promulgate rules addressing unfair methods of competition," FTC Chair Lina Khan said. Not everyone agrees.

The PWFA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees, however, the final rule provides clarification for "reasonable accommodations," such as time off for health care appointments and abortions.

"Our adversaries are exploiting Americans' sensitive personal data to threaten our national security," Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

"I expect that they will be looking for opportunities to apply all of the elements of the guidelines in merger cases -- to some extent, they've already been doing that," said former FTC Chair William Kovacic.