Oregon Law Banning Corporate Takeovers of Local Medical Care Introduced in Congress

Salem, OR - Today, Governor Tina Kotek applauded the introduction of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, federal legislation modeled after Oregon's first-in-the-nation law (Senate Bill 951, 2025) banning the "straw doctor" model used by private equity firms and corporations to control local medical practices. The bipartisan bill was signed into law by Governor Kotek on June 9, 2025.

"Oregonians want high quality, localized healthcare that has their best interests in mind. Corporate takeovers of local clinics and community hospitals jeopardize local, trusted access," said Governor Kotek. "Oregon's law is a blueprint for fighting for everyday Americans. I urge Congressional leadership to act swiftly to move this legislation forward."

This year, the Governor with legislative leaders fought to ensure care remained local in Lane County. PeaceHealth's resolution with Eugene Emergency Physicians was the first test case for Senate Bill 951.

"Patients want to know that decisions about their health are being made by their doctors, not by Wall Street investors," said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who co-introduced the bill in the Senate. "If we're going to lower costs and un-rig the health care system, we need to stop the corporate takeover of medicine."

"80% of doctors in the U.S. are employed by corporate entities, up from 62% in 2019," said U.S. Congresswoman Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), who introduced the bill in the House. "Healthcare should not be a line item in a spreadsheet. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will ensure proper protections are in place, so our healthcare systems serve the best interests of our patients, not corporations."

"Americans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctor, not dictated by corporate actors and private equity firms focused on maximizing profits," said U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), another sponsor of the bill. "I'm proud of Oregon's pioneering state law that has been used by doctors to protect their independence, and it's time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians."

"Billionaire corporations are using sick patients to turn healthy profits, and Americans are fed up," said U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), another sponsor of the bill. "In Oregon, we passed one of the most comprehensive corporate practice of medicine laws in the country, standing up for patients and health care providers. It's time we take on corporate greed in health care at the federal level by passing our Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, cracking down on these takeovers that are destroying our health care system."

"Patients deserve care driven by their needs, not corporate profits," said Rep. Maxine Dexter, M.D. (D-Ore.), who helped introduce the bill. "As a physician, I know medical decisions must remain between patients and their doctors. In the Oregon Legislature, I worked to help develop Senate Bill 951, which made Oregon the first state in the nation to protect patients and physicians from corporate interference. I'm proud to bring that work to Congress and fight for those same protections across the county."

The champion of Oregon's Senate Bill 951, House Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard, Metzger, South Beaverton), plans to continue leading efforts at the state level that strengthen Oregon laws and protect localized care.

"With big bipartisan majorities, Oregon passed the strongest ban on the corporate practice of medicine in the country," Leader Bowman said. "Oregon has shown that it's possible to stand up to corporate profiteering in healthcare and win. Now it's time to take that fight nationwide."