The State Attorney General has joined an effort by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission to block the $195 million acquisition of Palmyra Medical Center by the Dougherty County Hospital Authority to be operated by Phoebe Putney Health System, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Albany Wednesday morning.

Phoebe CEO Joel Wernick called the FTC action "disheartening" and that they were awaiting a judge's decision. Wernick, speaking to reporters at Phoebe's Wilson Board Room, said Phoebe officials still feel the county's acquisiton of Palmyra is in the best interest of Southwest Georgia.

Asked about details of the complaint, Wernick the case is in the attorneys' hands and it wouldn't be prudent to comment.

Read More: Albany Herald