State lawmakers want information from ApolloMD, the Georgia-based entity chosen by PeaceHealth to replace a local physicians group in their emergency departments. Three legislators have requested information in writing about compliance with Oregon Law.
Senate Bill 951 is a 2025 Oregon law that prohibits corporate ownership of medical practices.
Reps. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, Lisa Fragala, D-Eugene, and Nancy Nathanson, D-Eugene, were among the chief sponsors of the bill, which was approved with bipartisan support during the 2025 session.
The three lawmakers sent a joint letter on Feb. 24 to ApolloMD’s CEO, Dr. Yogin Patel, and PeaceHealth Oregon Chief Hospital Executive Dr. Jim McGovern, demanding seven types of documentation, including ownership and governance structure and any agreements defining ultimate decision-making control.
The letter did not accuse PeaceHealth or ApolloMD of wrongdoing.
In a statement released to KLCC, Fragala pointed to PeaceHealth’s decision to replace local physicians with a “multi-state corporation” as an example of why the law was passed.
“The takeover of local healthcare services by large out of state corporations results in a lack of healthcare access, a decrease in the quality of care, and an increase in the cost of healthcare,” Fragala wrote. “This is not what we want for Eugene and Springfield and I encourage PeaceHealth to change direction.”
Read the full letter from Reps. Bowman, Fragala and Nathanson:
Dear Dr. Patel & Dr. McGovern
I am writing regarding ApolloMD’s new role with Lane Emergency Physicians LLC, running emergency department services at PeaceHealth RiverBend.
As you may know, the Oregon Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 951 to reinforce long-standing protections around the corporate practice of medicine. We passed this law because Oregonians expect medical decisions to be made in the interest of patients and by clinicians exercising independent professional judgment, not by corporate ownership, which can allow non-clinical control over clinical practice and risk patient health.
SB 951 was intended to prevent this corporate medicine and provide clarity for all participants in the health care system, including physician groups, hospitals, and management services organizations. The goal is not to impede legitimate business operations, but to ensure that Oregon law is followed and that practice structures preserve clinical independence, transparent governance, and clear lines of responsibility.
In that spirit, and in light of ApolloMD’s expanding presence in Oregon, we are requesting documentation sufficient to demonstrate that the Oregon physician entity or entities associated with ApolloMD’s operations are structured and managed in compliance with Oregon law, including SB 951.
To that end, we request the following information:
1. The ownership structure of Lane Emergency Physicians LLC, including the names and Oregon medical license numbers of the physician owners;
2. The governance structure of Lane Emergency Physicians LLC, including managers, members, officers, or directors, and the process for appointment and removal;
3. The ownership and governance structure of any other corporate entities involved in the Peacehealth RiverBend contract, including any and all parent organizations and subsidiaries;
4. The identity and role of any management services organization (MSO) involved in Oregon operations;
5. The management services agreement(s), and any other agreements concerning operations, authority, or reserved powers, between ApolloMD, Lane Emergency Physicians LCC, or any other affiliated corporate entity relating to the PeaceHealth RiverBend contract;
6. Any agreements defining which entities or persons have ultimate decision-making authority over administrative, business, or clinical operations of Lane Emergency Physicians LLC that affect the nature or quality of medical care delivered by Lane Emergency Physicians LLC, including physician staffing, scheduling, compensation methodology, billing/coding policy, and payor contracting; and
7. Whether any physician owner, manager, officer, or director of Lane Emergency Physicians LLC receives compensation from any MSO owned by or affiliated with ApolloMD, and if so, the terms of that compensation.
This request is not a conclusion that any violation has occurred. Rather, it is a request for transparency so that we can assure Oregonians of compliance and avoid unnecessary uncertainty as SB 951 is implemented.
If helpful, our offices are available to discuss this request.
Thank you for your attention and cooperation.
Ben Bowman
Oregon State Representative
District 25
Lisa Fragala
Oregon State Representative
District 8
Nancy Nathanson
Oregon State Representative
District 13
