MultiCare, Samaritan Health Services come together

It took some time, but the MultiCare Health System and Samaritan Health Services have come together.

Samaritan officially joined MultiCare on Nov. 1. The organizations announced last month that they have received approval from public agencies to move ahead with their affiliation. They first announced plans for an affiliation in October 2025.

Based in Corvallis, Oregon, Samaritan operates five hospitals and more than 100 clinics. With the transaction completed, Samaritan becomes MultiCare’s first health system in Oregon.

With the addition of Samaritan, MultiCare, based in Tacoma, Washington, now operates 18 hospitals and more than 300 clinics and urgent care centers. The combined revenue of the merged organizations is about $9.1 billion, according to S&P Global Ratings.

MultiCare has pledged to invest $700 million into Samaritan over the next 10 years. The money will be used to expand access to care, modernize facilities, and help Samaritan attract and keep more healthcare providers.

Bill Robertson, CEO of MultiCare, touted his system’s plans to pour more resources into Samaritan’s facilities.

“Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our neighbors in the Willamette Valley and central Oregon coast by improving access, delivering exceptional care and helping people live healthier lives,” Robertson said.

Marty Cahill, Samaritan president and CEO, said last month that he was looking forward to the partnership and the prospect of additional resources for the system.

“Together with MultiCare, we will build a stronger future for healthcare in our region while remaining rooted in our communities,” Cahill said in a statement.

Brand will endure

Samaritan and MultiCare leaders went to Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital Monday to celebrate the affiliation with members of the community. They also noted the unveiling of the MultiCare logo on the facility, but the Samaritan name remains on the facility.

Even with the affiliation with MultiCare, Samaritan’s name is going to endure, the organizations said.

MultiCare has said that teams from both organizations will collaborate on the integration of Samaritan into the system, with changes occurring gradually. Clinicians and staff will be given the chance to offer insights.

Samaritan will keep local governance, and local leaders will advise priorities on investments of resources and community services.

Florence Chang, president of MultiCare, pointed to the integration of Samaritan happening carefully. Chang will take over as MultiCare’s CEO in January, following Robertson’s retirement.

“Our teams will work in partnership to understand where the needs are greatest and how our combined expertise can help meet those needs,” Chang said. “We will measure our progress by the difference we make for the people we serve.”

MultiCare continues growth

Samaritan serves a five-county area between the Cascade Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, and commands 71% of its market with limited competition, S&P Global Ratings noted in an Oct. 12 analysis.

While Samaritan has shown some improved financial performance, the system experienced operating losses in the 2025 fiscal year, but the losses were smaller than the previous year, S&P Global said.

MultiCare continues its expansion in the Pacific Northwest. In 2024, the system finalized an affiliation with the Overlake Medical Center & Clinics in Washington state, which now anchors MultiCare’s North Sound region.

With a leading share of the Tacoma market and a strong and growing presence across Washington state, MultiCare has an “A+” rating and stable outlook from Fitch Ratings.

MultiCare also opened the new Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in May, moving from an existing facility at Tacoma General Hospital into a new freestanding facility.

• Read more: Hospital mergers in 2026 exceed last year, and more deals are likely