The Federal Trade Commission has once again cleared the way for the merger of Lifespan and Care New England, just one of many hurdles before the plan can come to fruition.

The two hospital groups announced yesterday that the FTC had found no antitrust-law violations in their proposal to merge into a seven-hospital corporation controlling about two-thirds to three-quarters of hospital services in Rhode Island.

The FTC had made a similar ruling a year ago, but its decision expired. The hospitals, which have not yet moved forward with the merger plans, had to refile their application.

The biggest hurdles still lie ahead — winning approval from the state Department of Health and attorney general.

Although the merger was announced in July 2007, the hospitals have not yet finished filing their application with state regulators. But yesterday leaders of both hospital groups reaffirmed their commitment to the merger.