Samaritan & MultiCare Approve Affiliation to Strengthen Community-based Care Across the Pacific Northwest    

The boards of directors for the Corvallis-based Samaritan Health Services and Tacoma-based MultiCare Health System have approved an affiliation between the two organizations, marking a major milestone in advancing access to high-quality, community-based health care across Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.  

In the coming weeks, Samaritan and MultiCare will sign the formal affiliation agreement, paving the way for Samaritan to become part of MultiCare. The two organizations will now begin taking the next steps needed to bring the affiliation to completion, which is expected to occur in mid-2026. 

“This affiliation represents an important step in securing the future of nonprofit health care in our region,” said Marty Cahill, president and chief executive officer of Samaritan. “Our commitment has always been to remain a community-based, mission-driven organization, and this partnership strengthens that promise for decades to come. Together, we will expand access, invest in the technology and services our communities need, and do so while keeping care nonprofit and locally governed. We are excited and honored to become MultiCare’s first health system in Oregon and to bring the benefits of MultiCare’s expertise home to the communities we serve.”  

The affiliation between Samaritan and MultiCare will also further strengthen health care across the region by enhancing quality, supporting affordability and advancing health equity. As part of the agreement, MultiCare has committed to invest resources over the next 10 years to modernize Samaritan’s facilities, grow primary and specialty care, and introduce new technologies and telehealth capabilities that improve access, patient experience and help lower the cost of care. This investment also includes plans to expand Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, adding inpatient capacity and ensuring the region’s growing population has continued access to local hospital care. The affiliation will also bring MultiCare’s leading behavioral health network — the largest in Washington — into Samaritan’s service area, increasing access across the mid-Willamette Valley and central coast. 

“MultiCare’s mission is partnering for healing and a healthy future, and that mission drives us to seek out like-minded organizations to ensure Pacific Northwest communities have long-term access to local care,” said MultiCare CEO Bill Robertson. “MultiCare and Samaritan are closely aligned in our mission, vision and values, making us ideal partners as we strengthen our networks across our service regions. It will be our privilege to be a part of the communities Samaritan serves and we look forward to working together to support and advance health care in Oregon.”   

For now, nothing changes for patients, employees or health plan members. Samaritan will continue to operate as it does today, providing care through the same trusted clinicians and facilities, while both organizations complete the remaining steps in the affiliation process. 

Samaritan will remain locally governed and community based, maintaining its deep roots in the region while gaining access to new resources, expertise and operational strength through MultiCare. Once finalized, the affiliation will bring expanded services, modernized capabilities and greater long-term stability to the communities Samaritan serves.  

To learn more about this affiliation, visit samhealth.org/Affiliation

Samaritan Health Services   

Samaritan is a nonprofit regional health system that brings together five community hospitals, more than 80 physician clinics and multiple health insurance plans to serve more than 280,000 residents in Oregon’s Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties. Samaritan employs more than 5,000 employees, including 620 clinicians, and is governed by a volunteer board made up of community members.

MultiCare Health System 

MultiCare is a locally governed, nonprofit health system dedicated to serving communities across the Pacific Northwest. With more than 28,000 employees, providers and volunteers, MultiCare is a comprehensive health system which includes more than 300 primary, urgent, pediatric and specialty care locations, as well as 13 hospitals. 

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