Samaritan And MultiCare Affiliation Moves Closer

Samaritan Health Services has received approval from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) for its proposed affiliation with MultiCare Health System, marking the most significant milestone to date in the organizations’ affiliation process. The approval allows Samaritan and MultiCare to move forward with the remaining regulatory approvals, legal and administrative steps required to complete the transaction.

OHA’s approval includes conditions designed to protect access to care and strengthen healthcare in the communities Samaritan serves. These conditions are closely aligned with the commitments Samaritan and MultiCare outlined in our affiliation agreement and further cement our shared commitment to the patients and communities.

“This approval is an important step forward for the communities we serve,” said Marty Cahill,

Samaritan president and CEO (pictured above). “Our affiliation with MultiCare will provide additional resources to invest in our workforce, facilities, technology and services — and help make it easier for people to receive high-quality care close to home.”

The affiliation is not final. Samaritan and MultiCare will continue to operate as independent

organizations until the transaction closes. The organizations are working toward closing early in the fourth quarter of this year. The approval does not change how patients receive care or access services. Patients can continue to see their Samaritan providers, keep scheduled appointments, use Samaritan pharmacies and access their health information through MyChart.

There are no planned changes to the health insurance plans accepted by Samaritan Health Services, or to the types of plans offered by Samaritan Health Plans, through 2027. Samaritan will continue to be locally led and focused on the needs of the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast.

Samaritan and MultiCare announced their intent to affiliate in 2025 following an extensive

evaluation and due diligence. The two nonprofit health systems share a commitment to high-

quality compassionate care and healthier communities. Once the affiliation is complete, MultiCare has committed to investing $700 million over 10 years to strengthen healthcare throughout Samaritan’s region.

This investment will support expanded access to care, recruitment and retention of providers, improvements to facilities and technology, and opportunities to bring more services closer to home. “MultiCare is honored to partner with Samaritan and support its mission and legacy of community-based care,” said Bill Robertson, CEO of MultiCare.

“Together,” said Florence Chang, president of MultiCare, “we can build on the strengths of both organizations and create new opportunities to improve access and serve patients and

communities across the Pacific Northwest.” Following closing, Samaritan and MultiCare will begin a phased integration process.

Teams from both organizations will work together to share expertise and identify opportunities to strengthen care delivery while maintaining operational stability.

For additional information and answers to frequently asked questions, visit

samhealth.org/Affiliation. Questions may also be sent to affiliation@samhealth.org.