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Attorneys for two Chicago-area hospital systems argued in federal court Wednesday that a recent decision in a similar antitrust case in Pennsylvania supports the systems' case for being allowed to merge. Attorneys for the Federal Trade Commission, meanwhile, posited that the judge in the Chicago case shouldn't follow the lead of the judge in the recent Pennsylvania matter. (Schencker, 5/25)

Stratus Healthcare, an alliance of hospital systems, said Wednesday that it’s entering partnership talks with a large physician organization in Central Georgia. The talks between Stratus and Central Georgia Health Network could lead to forming a “clinically integrated network’’ to treat patients in South and Middle Georgia. (Miller, 5/25)

The consolidation of the hospital industry progressed Wednesday as state regulators gave tentative approval to the $105 million purchase of Manchester Memorial and Rockville General hospitals by Prospect Medical Holdings, a for-profit company based in Los Angeles. (Pazniokas, 5/25)