Home - About Samaritan - Our Organization - Affiliation
Updated: Aug. 24, 2026
The Oregon Health Authority has conditionally approved our proposed affiliation between Samaritan Health Services and MultiCare Health System, marking a major milestone in the process. The approval brings us significantly closer to officially beginning our partnership and realizing the benefits it will bring to our patients and communities.
A few legal, regulatory and administrative steps remain before the affiliation is complete. Samaritan and MultiCare will continue operating as independent organizations as we work toward an early fall closing date.
Once our partnership with MultiCare officially begins, Samaritan will remain a locally governed, community-based health system while gaining access to additional resources, expertise and capabilities through MultiCare.
MultiCare has committed to invest $700 million over 10 years to strengthen healthcare throughout our region. These investments will help:
Samaritan will become MultiCare’s first affiliated health system in Oregon, bringing a unique combination of hospitals, clinics and health plans – including critical access hospitals – to the broader system.
Pictured: Samaritan President and CEO Marty Cahill (left) with MultiCare Health System CEO Bill Robertson and President Florence Chang in the healing garden at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital.
The healthcare needs of our communities continue to grow, and access to care remains a challenge in many parts of our region. We need to expand services, recruit more clinicians, modernize facilities and give care teams the tools and spaces they need to serve patients well.
Our affiliation with MultiCare will provide the investment and resources needed to help address those challenges – making it easier for patients to receive the care they need close to home supporting the long-term strength of healthcare throughout our region.
Nearly 30 years ago, Samaritan Health Services began taking shape as local hospitals and clinics came together based on the belief that cooperation could strengthen care and expand local services. Our affiliation with MultiCare represents the next step in that evolution and will help us continue building a stronger future for local healthcare.
Patients can continue receiving care from the Samaritan providers they know and trust. Samaritan hospitals, clinics and services will continue operating as they do today, and patients can continue using MyChart and Samaritan pharmacies.
There are no planned changes to the health insurance plans accepted by Samaritan through 2027 as a result of the affiliation.
Following closing, patients may begin to notice updates to signs and communications that reflect Samaritan’s partnership with MultiCare. These visible changes will not affect how patients receive care.
Over time, the affiliation will bring significant investment to our healthcare system – helping expand access to care, recruit and retain clinicians, strengthen services, improve facilities and technology.
Our employees will continue doing what they do every day: caring for our patients, members and communities. Their expertise, relationships and commitment to Samaritan will remain central to our future.
As our partnership begins, teams from both organizations will have more opportunities to learn from one another, share expertise and work together to strengthen how we serve patients and support employees.
Integration will happen thoughtfully and in phases over time. The people closest to the work will help inform and shape that process, and employees will continue to receive clear communication as plans develop.
Samaritan and MultiCare are both nonprofit, community-based health systems with missions centered on improving the health of the communities we serve.
Together, we share priorities that include:
MultiCare has served the Pacific Northwest for more than 140 years and operates hospitals, clinics, behavioral health services and other healthcare programs across Washington and northern Idaho.
The affiliation will give Samaritan access to MultiCare’s resources, expertise and capabilities while preserving Samaritan’s local identity, leadership and community-based governance. in Washington, supported by more than 300 clinics and care locations across the Pacific Northwest. They are nationally recognized for their expertise in population health and operate the region’s largest behavioral health network.
OHA’s approval includes conditions designed to protect access to care and strengthen healthcare in our communities. 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 we serve.
We will now complete the remaining legal, regulatory and administrative steps required before our partnership can officially begin. We will confirm that timing as soon as the remaining steps are complete.
We look forward to officially beginning our partnership and putting the additional investment, expertise and resources made possible through the affiliation to work for our communities.
If you do not find the information you need in the frequently asked questions below, please contact us.
Samaritan is joining 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.
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.
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.
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:
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.erve 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.
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.
No immediate changes to existing clinical partnerships are expected as a result of the affiliation. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Daily operations will continue as normal. We remain committed to our number one priority – providing our patients with compassionate, high-quality care and our members with service they deserve.
Yes. Samaritan Health Services will continue to offer the MyChart patient portal with no disruption to access or features.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Samaritan will not bypass closer Oregon hospitals (such as those in Portland or surrounding areas) to send patients to MultiCare facilities. Transfers will continue to follow the current approach, based on clinical need, proximity and existing referral relationships.
MultiCare facilities may be used if a patient chooses to go there or if a specific specialty service, trial or expertise is available at a MultiCare location.
Access to MultiCare’s specialty institutes is expected to expand options for patients while keeping care close to home. These institutes provide larger specialty networks and expertise that local clinicians can connect to, giving patients access to an expanded network of care and resources. Being part of these networks can help Samaritan recruit and retain specialists, since providers would be part of a broader group with colleagues, research and shared knowledge. For patients, this means:
Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates have a direct impact on Samaritan’s ability to fund services, expand access and invest in care. When reimbursement rates are lower than the actual cost of care, health systems must absorb those losses, which can limit resources available for staffing, services and investments.
This can affect patient care in a few ways:
The affiliation is expected to bring additional tools, resources and expertise to help manage the cost of care and improve efficiency.
For more information about the impact of uncompensated patient care on Samaritan and MultiCare, visit each organization’s community benefit pages:
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.
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.
Independent practices are expected to remain an important part of the local healthcare system. The affiliation is focused on strengthening access and services, not replacing community providers.
Yes. Medical staff will continue to be based locally at each Samaritan hospital. Care delivery and decision-making will remain local, with hospitals continuing to serve their own communities, with support from a larger system behind the scenes.
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.
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.
Pursuing affiliation does not impact our network today for our health plan members.
There should be no interruption to services or claims processing.
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.
It’s possible, but no final decision has been made. Current coverage and contracts will remain in place through 2026. After that, Samaritan and MultiCare will evaluate future options, including whether to offer a Medicare Advantage plan. Nothing is off the table, but any decision will depend on what is financially sustainable and aligned with the overall system.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
Yes. Strengthening Samaritan’s long-term financial stability is one of the primary reasons for the affiliation. Samaritan has faced the same financial pressures seen across health care, including rising costs, workforce shortages and lower reimbursement rates. MultiCare brings greater scale, resources and experience managing these challenges, including population health expertise and serving communities with a large number of Medicaid patients.
Being part of a larger system is expected to provide efficiencies, shared capabilities and purchasing power that can improve overall financial performance.
MultiCare’s investment will be guided by community needs and final decisions will be developed using data and local input. Initial considerations across all of our communities include:
Additional investments being considered for each of our counties include:
Benton County
Linn County
Lincoln County
Decisions about capital improvements will be made through a shared, step-by-step process involving both Samaritan and MultiCare, with local input.
Decisions will be made collaboratively, with local leadership helping shape priorities and ensuring investments reflect the needs of Samaritan’s communities.
Yes. The affiliation is expected to accelerate Samaritan’s ability to adopt advanced technologies, including telehealth, helping bring more services to patients where they live and improving access across the region.
MultiCare has experience with innovative care models, including population health tools, remote monitoring and care delivered outside the hospital setting. These capabilities are expected to help Samaritan expand services and manage care more effectively, especially for patients with chronic conditions.
Telehealth will be a key part of expanding access, particularly for rural and coastal communities where access to specialists is limited. This could include virtual specialty visits, remote monitoring and chronic care management and expanding access to services like psychiatry and other specialties that are difficult to recruit locally.
Yes. Community and patient input, including from Patient and Family Advisory Councils, will continue to be an important part of planning future improvements.
The affiliation is intended to be collaborative, with input from patients, employees and the communities Samaritan serves. Samaritan also plans to continue public forums, Q&A opportunities and feedback channels to gather input as plans are developed.
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.
Yes. Revenue generated in Oregon will stay here and be reinvested in local communities. Any financial gains or improved performance would be used to expand access, improve quality and add services locally.
Yes. The affiliation is expected to help strengthen and expand pharmacy services over time.
Samaritan is already working to expand pharmacy services, and the affiliation is expected to add expertise and new capabilities that can accelerate that work.
SamFit is expected to continue as it is today, with no planned changes, and may represent an area of strength that MultiCare is interested in learning from.
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.
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.
Samaritan’s commitment to supporting our community through community benefit activities, partnerships and strategic sponsorships remains unchanged.
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.
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.
Watch recordings of Samaritan’s virtual community town halls to hear Marty Cahill, Samaritan president and CEO, share information about the affiliation and respond to community questions.
