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Hospitals took the first steps toward a possible legal battle with the state over a tax the medical centers claim is unconstitutional and is harming hospitals financially. The Connecticut Hospital Association filed letters Monday with the Departments of Social Services and Revenue Services, seeking declaratory rulings from the agencies on whether the so-called "provider tax" on hospitals is constitutional. Those letters were first obtained by The Associated Press. (Haigh, 11/30)

State regulators have approved plans for the parent company of St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford to acquire the financially struggling Johnson Memorial Hospital. The $30 million purchase is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. (Levin Becker, 11/30)

Nearly $6 million in state-owned hospital equipment can't be located, and millions more bought for the recently opened New Orleans public hospital hasn't been tracked properly, according to an audit released Monday. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera's Office looked at the LSU Health Care Services Division's financial reporting for the last budget year, which ended June 30. Most of LSU's hospitals were privatized several years ago by Gov. Bobby Jindal, with the facilities and equipment leased by private hospital managers. (11/30)

Medicare Advantage plans won't have to pay comparatively higher rates in the coming years for services through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the state Supreme Court ruled Monday. The court ruled 3-2 that about 180,000 people in Highmark's Medicare Advantage plans will continue to pay UPMC's "in-network" fees at least until June 2019, when a consent decree involving the two health providers is set to expire. (Scolforo, 11/30)