Samaritan Health Services has cleared a major regulatory hurdle in its planned affiliation with Washington-based MultiCare Health System, receiving approval from the Oregon Health Authority this week.
The Aug. 24 approval marks what Samaritan officials called the most significant milestone to date in the affiliation process, which was first announced in 2025 following an extended period of evaluation and due diligence between the two nonprofit health systems.
OHA’s sign-off allows Samaritan and MultiCare to proceed with the remaining regulatory, legal and administrative steps needed to finalize the deal. The approval includes conditions intended to protect access to care and strengthen healthcare services in the communities Samaritan serves, conditions the organizations said align with commitments already outlined in their affiliation agreement.
“This approval is an important step forward for the communities we serve,” Samaritan President and Chief Executive Officer Marty Cahill said in a statement. “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 yet final. Samaritan and MultiCare will continue operating as independent organizations until the transaction closes, which the two systems are targeting for early in the fourth quarter of this year.
Officials emphasized the approval does not change how patients currently receive care. Patients can continue seeing their Samaritan providers, keep existing appointments, use Samaritan pharmacies and access MyChart as before. Samaritan said there are no planned changes to the health insurance plans it accepts, or to plans offered through Samaritan Health Plans, through 2027.
Once the deal closes, MultiCare has committed to investing $700 million over 10 years to strengthen healthcare across Samaritan’s region, funding officials said will support expanded access to care, provider recruitment and retention, facility and technology upgrades, and services located closer to home. Samaritan will continue to be locally led, with a focus on the mid-Willamette Valley and central Oregon Coast.
“MultiCare is honored to partner with Samaritan and support its mission and legacy of community-based care,” said Bill Robertson, CEO of MultiCare.
MultiCare President Florence Chang said the partnership would let the two systems build on each other’s strengths.
“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,” she said.
Following closing, the two organizations will begin a phased integration process with teams from both systems working to share expertise and identify ways to strengthen care delivery while maintaining stability for patients and staff.
Samaritan Health Services is a nonprofit regional health system serving more than 280,000 residents across Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties, operating five hospitals along with physician clinics and health insurance plans. MultiCare Health System is a nonprofit system based in Washington state, with more than 300 care locations and 13 hospitals.