Samaritan & MultiCare Affiliation

What does affiliation mean for Samaritan Health Services and MultiCare Health System?

The affiliation between Samaritan and MultiCare represents a formal integration. Samaritan will join MultiCare Health System while retaining our name, local leadership and governance. This is not a merger or acquisition. Rather, it’s a strategic affiliation that brings Samaritan into the MultiCare organization while ensuring decisions about local services, investments and community needs continue to be made in Oregon. The affiliation allows both systems to share expertise, technology and resources to strengthen community-based care across the Pacific Northwest.

What led to this decision?

To meet the growing health care needs of our communities, Samaritan must continue to evolve. That means expanding services, modernizing facilities and recruiting more clinicians. We need the tools, technology and spaces that allow our teams to deliver the very best care – whether that’s ensuring patients can see a clinician close to home, reducing wait times or expanding preventive programs that help people stay healthy.  

How was this decision made? 

Samaritan’s Board of Directors and senior leadership undertook a thoughtful and comprehensive evaluation process, guided by an independent consultant specializing in nonprofit health care. This process explored a full range of options – including remaining independent – to ensure Samaritan can strengthen and grow its mission for generations to come.  

What criteria were used to select MultiCare? 

The Board identified clear objectives for any potential affiliation: Strengthen Samaritan’s role as the region’s trusted provider, partner and employer of choice; Expand access, improve quality and promote health equity; Maintain local governance and community-based decision making; Find a strong cultural and strategic fit; Secure the capital necessary to modernize facilities and support future growth.  

Why are MultiCare and Samaritan a good fit? 

Both Samaritan and MultiCare are nonprofit, locally governed, mission-driven organizations with deep commitments to community-based care. Our shared values – including a focus on health equity, quality and population health – make this an ideal partnership. From our first conversations, it was clear that our missions and cultures align closely. 

What benefits will MultiCare realize through this affiliation?

This affiliation creates a meaningful opportunity for MultiCare to advance its non-profit mission by partnering with our strong, community-based Oregon health system. Through the affiliation, MultiCare is able to extend its commitment to high-quality, affordable and equitable care to more communities across the Pacific Northwest.

Specifically, the affiliation allows MultiCare to:

• Expand its mission into Oregon by partnering with Samaritan, its first affiliated health system in the state, and strengthening community-based care across the region.
• Complement its existing capabilities by working with Samaritan’s health plans and critical access hospitals – areas where Samaritan brings experience and expertise that MultiCare does not currently operate.
• Share expertise and resources to improve access, quality and health outcomes for patients in both Washington and Oregon.
• Collaborate on innovative care models, particularly for rural and underserved communities, while reinforcing a shared commitment to nonprofit, community-driven health care.

This affiliation aligns with MultiCare’s long-term vision to serve more people across the Pacific Northwest while remaining deeply rooted in the communities it serves. Oregon is an important part of that vision, and partnering with Samaritan enables MultiCare to advance shared goals around access, performance excellence and population health while preserving local care and local decision making.

Were other organizations considered?  

Yes. Samaritan evaluated several potential partners using defined criteria, including mission alignment, community commitment and long-term sustainability. MultiCare emerged as the strongest match for Samaritan’s values, strategy and vision for the future. 

How does the affiliation process work? 

Samaritan and MultiCare have submitted an application to the Oregon Health Authority’s Health Care Market Oversight program and have signed a definitive agreement. The definitive agreement is the legal document that finalizes the terms of the affiliation, to which each organization’s board of directors have agreed. The affiliation will require review and approval from state and federal regulators. After those reviews and the closing of the transaction, we will begin integration planning.  

How long will the affiliation process take? 

The process will take many months. We anticipate receiving regulatory approvals in the spring or summer of 2026, which will be followed by an integration period that will likely take several months before we are operating as one system. 

Now that the application has been submitted to the Oregon Health Authority and the definitive agreement has been signed by Samaritan and MultiCare, what are the next steps and expected timeline?

The Oregon Health Authority manages a rigorous review process for all health care related transactions through its Health Care Market Oversight program. After the application and definitive agreement are submitted, the process typically includes:

• Preliminary review: OHA has 30 days to assess potential impacts on cost, access, equity and quality.
• Comprehensive review: OHA may decide to conduct a deeper analysis, which may include public comment and community review. This phase can last up to 180 days and may be extended if more information is required.
• Decision: OHA may approve, approve with conditions or deny the affiliation.

Overall, the timeline can range from six to nine months or longer, depending on complexity. OHA can pause the review if filings are incomplete or additional data is needed. Throughout the process, updates and public comment opportunities will be posted on OHA’s website.

How would Samaritan’s affiliation with MultiCare be different than the merger between The Corvallis Clinic and Optum?

Samaritan’s affiliation with MultiCare is fundamentally different in structure and purpose. Samaritan and MultiCare are both non-profit, mission-driven health systems with no shareholders, and all resources are reinvested back into patient care, workforce support and community health.

The Corvallis Clinic’s transaction with Optum involved alignment with a large, for-profit shareholder-owned company. Samaritan’s affiliation does not involve conversion to for-profit ownership and is designed to preserve Samaritan’s mission, culture and local decision making while strengthening long-term stability and access to care for the communities we serve.

Will Samaritan change its name? 

The agreement allows us to continue to use our name and logo alongside MultiCare’s logo in an endorsing format, reflecting our shared mission while preserving Samaritan’s strong local identity.

How will this affiliation affect existing partnerships, such as those with local health districts and clinical partners like Stanford Health Care, Providence Health & Services and Oregon Oncology Specialists? 

No immediate changes to existing clinical partnerships are expected as a result of the affiliation process. Samaritan will continue to work closely with our health district and clinical partners to confirm continued alignment and ensure local services remain strong.

MultiCare shares our commitment to collaboration and community-based decision making. We will approach any future partnership discussions with transparency and the shared goal of maintaining and strengthening local access to care.

What has been the experience of hospitals in Washington that have affiliated with MultiCare?  

Samaritan leaders visited several MultiCare hospitals and clinics and spoke with board members, physicians, nurses, leaders and frontline staff to learn directly about their experience. Feedback was consistently positive: Leaders shared that MultiCare has honored its commitments, invested in modernizing facilities, expanded services and access points, and supported local teams in continuing to meet community needs. These visits gave Samaritan confidence in MultiCare’s partnership approach and long-standing track record of strengthening care in the communities they serve. 

Will our communities have opportunities to meet representatives from MultiCare?

Yes. MultiCare leaders, including members of the executive team, have already spent time in the region meeting with Samaritan leaders and board members, and additional visits are planned. As the affiliation process continues, MultiCare leaders—including the CEO and president—expect to return for employee forums and community town halls, providing opportunities to hear directly from them and ask questions.

Initial visits are anticipated in early 2026, with additional opportunities for community engagement as the affiliation progresses. 

How might state and federal health care funding cuts, including HR1, affect the affiliation?  

HR1 includes major reductions to Medicaid funding beginning in 2027, which will create financial pressure for all community-based health systems. While these cuts affect both Samaritan and MultiCare, the affiliation strengthens Samaritan’s ability to navigate these changes. 

By partnering with MultiCare, Samaritan will have access to stronger population health tools, care-coordination resources and data systems that help manage cost and improve outcomes – important advantages as funding declines. Both organizations are preparing for these federal changes, and the affiliation positions Samaritan to continue providing high-quality, local care even as the health care environment becomes more challenging. 

Is there a possibility that the affiliation will not be finalized? 

Both Samaritan and MultiCare are committed to this partnership and optimistic about the path forward. However, the process includes multiple steps and approvals. Until those are complete, the affiliation is not final.  

If the affiliation is not finalized, how will Samaritan move forward? 

Over the past year, Samaritan has made significant progress improving access, stabilizing finances and strengthening operations. That progress will continue regardless of the outcome. Should there be a delay or change in the affiliation process, we will remain focused on sustainability and advancing our mission of building healthier communities together, while continuing to explore strategic partnerships that benefit our region.

What steps are being taken to ensure communication with the public as this affiliation work continues?

Samaritan is committed to open and ongoing communication throughout this process. We have established a dedicated webpage samhealth.org/Affiliation to share updates, key milestones and answers to common questions.  

In addition, we will continue to keep our communities informed through public forums, outreach meetings, speaking engagements, press releases, e-newsletters, social media and other engagement opportunities. Our goal is to ensure that community members, employees and partners have clear, timely information as the affiliation progresses and that their voices remain an important part of the process.  

 

Can I still see my doctor? 

Yes, you can continue to see the Samaritan providers you know and trust. Please continue to keep your appointments and access the care you need as you need it.

Will this impact wait times or appointment availability? 

Daily operations will continue as normal throughout this process. We remain committed to our number one priority – providing our patients with compassionate, high-quality care and our members with service they deserve.

Will Samaritan patients still have access to the MyChart patient portal?  

Yes. Samaritan Health Services will continue to offer the MyChart patient portal with no disruption to access or features.   

Will any clinics or services close?

Both Samaritan and MultiCare are deeply committed to expanding access, improving quality and advancing health equity. MultiCare has made a significant long-term investment commitment to Samaritan, focused on strengthening hospitals, clinics and services so that our communities have even more care options close to home.

What does MultiCare have to offer patients in our communities?

MultiCare brings deep expertise in population health, value-based care and behavioral health – areas that directly benefit patients by improving care coordination, enhancing outcomes and reducing unnecessary costs. Through its Physicians of Southwest Washington population health enterprise, MultiCare has successfully managed care for hundreds of thousands of patients through advanced analytics and integrated clinical programs.

Together, Samaritan and MultiCare will apply these same capabilities to strengthen care delivery across the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast – expanding access, improving efficiency, and ensuring patients receive coordinated, affordable care.

Do MultiCare hospitals offer a comprehensive range of medical specialties? Will Samaritan patients have access to their specialists?   

With 13 hospitals and more than 300 clinics, MultiCare Health System offers a comprehensive range of medical specialties, including cancer, neuroscience and cardiac institutes. They also provide comprehensive specialty care in their pediatric and behavioral health hospitals.   

Through this affiliation, Samaritan patients will gain greater access to specialty physicians and services. In some cases, MultiCare specialists may travel to our region to provide care, and when appropriate, patients may choose to visit a MultiCare hospital in Washington for advanced treatment. 

The ratio of hospital inpatient beds to population in Oregon has been low, historically. Will Samaritan’s affiliation with MultiCare help improve this?

Oregon has long had fewer hospital inpatient beds per capita than many states, which can affect access as communities grow. The proposed affiliation with MultiCare is intended to strengthen Samaritan’s ability to plan for and invest in inpatient capacity over time.

As part of the affiliation, Samaritan and MultiCare are evaluating future capacity needs, including an expansion at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center that could add approximately 30 inpatient beds over the next decade. This work would be supported by MultiCare’s broader $700 million capital commitment focused on facility modernization and long-term access across the region.

Will this affiliation help with recruitment of physicians and other medical professionals to our area?

Yes. MultiCare brings strong recruitment expertise and resources that will complement Samaritan’s efforts to attract and retain top talent. Together, we will share best practices and leverage MultiCare’s experience to strengthen recruitment strategies for physicians and other medical professionals in our region. These efforts will help ensure access to high-quality care for our communities.

Will costs increase for patients?

We do not anticipate that patient costs will increase as a result of this affiliation. In fact, one of the key reasons Samaritan selected MultiCare as its partner is because of MultiCare’s proven success in improving quality while lowering the total cost of care in the communities it serves.

Would reproductive care, gender-affirming care or end-of-life care at Samaritan be affected by affiliation with MultiCare?  

It is important to Samaritan that these services are maintained in our communities as we move forward with affiliation. MultiCare and Samaritan are culturally aligned, and reproductive, gender-affirming and end-of-life care would continue to be supported and available for patients in our region. 

Will Samaritan continue to support social determinants of health initiatives?

Absolutely. Addressing social determinants of health such as housing, nutrition and transportation remains central to Samaritan’s mission of building healthier communities together. Both Samaritan and MultiCare share a strong, long-standing commitment to advancing health equity and improving population health. Through this affiliation, we will be able to expand resources and partnerships that help remove barriers to care and improve overall well-being.

 

Will my insurance still be accepted?

Patients and members can be assured that there will be no changes to the insurance plans accepted at Samaritan facilities in 2026 as a result of this affiliation. You can continue to use your current in-network insurance when receiving care at Samaritan locations.

The affiliation requires both state and federal review, which we anticipate will conclude in 2026. Only after regulatory approval would any planning for future integration begin.

Learn more about our in-network insurance plans at samhealth.org/InsuranceBilling.

Will current plan offerings, pricing or networks change for employers or their employees?

No. None of Samaritan’s current or 2026 plan offerings, pricing, or networks will change because of the planned affiliation. Members and employers will continue to receive the same level of service and access to their trusted providers. In the years ahead, Samaritan and MultiCare will explore ways to enhance value, expand access, and improve quality for members and employer groups.

Will there be any changes to what’s considered in-network?

Pursuing affiliation does not impact our network today for our health plan members.

Will there be any interruption in claims processing during the transition? 

There should be no interruption to services or claims processing.

Will Samaritan Health Plans remain in business?

Yes. Samaritan Health Plans will remain in place and continue operating as they do today. MultiCare values health plans as a key component of population health strategy and sees Samaritan’s health plan as a strength of this affiliation. Together, we will explore opportunities to enhance value and improve care coordination for members, while maintaining the same commitment to quality and affordability.

Will Samaritan Health Plans call centers, member services or grievance processes change? 

Samaritan Health Plans call centers, member services and grievance processes will continue as usual, and we remain committed to our number one priority – providing our members with compassionate, high-quality service.

Does MultiCare have health plans today?

MultiCare does not currently operate health plans. However, they are building this capability as part of their strategy to advance population-based care and value-based payment models. Samaritan brings deep expertise through Samaritan Health Plans and InterCommunity Health Network CCO, which will strengthen MultiCare’s integrated network. Together, we’ll be able to enhance how care is coordinated, managed and delivered, improving outcomes for the people and employers we serve.

What will the governance structure be for InterCommunity Health Network CCO after the affiliation? Will a Community Advisory Council remain in place?

MultiCare and Samaritan are both committed to local governance for community-based decision making. The affiliation will fully comply with Oregon Health Authority requirements for coordinated care organizations, including maintaining a community advisory council and local oversight structure. These councils ensure that the voices of our members, providers and community partners remain central to decision making, just as they are today.

 

It is clear health care organizations across the nation have been struggling. What are MultiCare’s secrets to success? How have they positioned themselves to be able to invest in health care in our communities?

MultiCare’s success is rooted in disciplined financial management, strategic growth, and a strong commitment to community-based care. Over the past decade, MultiCare has expanded thoughtfully through affiliations and investments that align with its mission. The organization maintains solid credit ratings and strong cash reserves, enabling reinvestment in facilities, technology and workforce development. Operational efficiencies and a focus on quality have positioned MultiCare to sustain growth while continuing to deliver high-quality care across the Pacific Northwest.

How will local governance continue with the MultiCare affiliation?

Samaritan will continue to be led by local community members and leaders who understand the unique needs of the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast. After the affiliation closes, Samaritan’s Board of Directors and leadership team will remain in place, overseeing day-to-day operations, strategy and community investments just as they do today.

Samaritan’s local board will develop and approve its annual budgets and priorities in collaboration with MultiCare’s system board, ensuring alignment and access to the resources and expertise of a larger system. Samaritan will also have a presence in MultiCare’s system governance. This ensures that Oregon voices help guide the overall direction of the MultiCare Health System, reflecting the priorities and perspectives of our communities.

This governance structure was intentionally designed to keep Samaritan rooted in local leadership and community accountability, while gaining the benefits of MultiCare’s capital, technology and operational expertise. It ensures that Oregon perspectives remain at the table – and that Samaritan’s health care dollars stay in Oregon, serving our patients and communities.

Will MultiCare have the ultimate decision-making authority for Samaritan?

Under the proposed affiliation, Samaritan will continue to be governed locally, with its board and leadership team responsible for day-to-day operations, budgeting, and regional strategy. At the same time, MultiCare will hold certain reserved approval rights for major system-level decisions, consistent with how nonprofit health system affiliations are typically structured.

This governance model is designed to preserve strong local leadership and community voice, while providing alignment, stability, and access to MultiCare’s system-wide expertise and resources.

Will any Samaritan departments or jobs be eliminated as a result of the affiliation?

MultiCare’s approach is centered on growth, investment and strengthening local care – not reduction. Like Samaritan, they rely on internal shared services to support their operations, create consistency and improve efficiency and reliability across the system. As part of future integration planning, both organizations will look at how to best align support functions, but no decisions have been made.

We are still early in the regulatory review process, and integration planning has not yet begun. If adjustments are considered in the future, they would be:

• Data-driven and collaborative
• Communicated clearly and well in advance
• Designed to maintain a strong local presence to serve our communities

Decisions about staffing will continue to involve local Samaritan leadership, and any changes would occur over time – not suddenly – through a thoughtful, transparent process. The goal of the affiliation is to strengthen services, support our teams and grow in areas where our communities need us most.

How will affiliation with MultiCare affect planning and decision making for Samaritan’s hospital labor and delivery units, which were previously considered for consolidation?

The affiliation does not change Samaritan’s commitment to keeping labor and delivery services in each of our communities. Earlier this year, after more than 70 listening sessions, we revised our proposals and affirmed that these services will remain in all five hospitals – and that commitment stands.

 

Will affiliations with medical schools, residency programs and allied health institutions remain in place?

No immediate changes are expected to existing partnerships. Samaritan will continue to collaborate closely with our medical school and allied health partners to ensure continued alignment and support. Like Samaritan, MultiCare operates robust graduate medical education programs and values the opportunity to educate and train future health care professionals.

With the affiliation, will there be any changes to Samaritan Foundations and the ways they benefit patients and our communities?

MultiCare has a strong philanthropic infrastructure, with several foundations that support hospitals, programs and services across Washington. These foundations enable donors and volunteers to contribute directly to health care causes that matter most to them.

Samaritan Foundations and their programs will remain in place, continuing to support our hospitals, programs, and services in the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast. This ensures that local philanthropy continues to benefit patients and communities right here at home.

Will there be changes to local investments, sponsorships or partnerships? 

Samaritan’s commitment to supporting our community through community benefit activities, partnerships and strategic sponsorships remains unchanged.

How will donor gifts be managed through the transition?

Donor intent and local impact remain central to Samaritan’s philanthropic mission. Funds donated to existing Samaritan foundations will continue to be managed locally and benefit the hospitals and communities they were intended to support. This approach will not change through the affiliation process.

Does MultiCare have community benefit programs? Where do you anticipate Samaritan’s existing community benefit programs fitting in following affiliation?

MultiCare, like Samaritan, is a nonprofit health system and is strongly committed to community benefit. They operate programs that support local health needs. In 2024, MultiCare provided more than $117 million in community benefit support for community services. That is in addition to the more than $522 million in unreimbursed costs of providing care to low-income and special needs populations. You can learn more about their community investment in their 2024 Annual Report.  In addition, in November of 2025 MultiCare awarded $800,000 to 53 nonprofits advancing community health in Washington. You can learn more about that investment here. Their approach emphasizes community health assessments every three years to ensure programs align with local priorities.

Following the affiliation, Samaritan’s existing community benefit programs will continue to be locally driven and follow Oregon-specific guidelines. Decisions about which programs to maintain or expand will remain based on community-identified needs, with Samaritan leading those efforts in Oregon. MultiCare is supportive of this model and views community partnerships as core to its mission.