OPINION: A case for integrating OHSU and Legacy Health, improving health care in Oregon

Published 5:15 am Tuesday, March 4, 2025

The scene is familiar to any Oregonian seeking health care for themselves or a loved one: long wait times, delayed surgeries, crowded hospitals. This has become the unacceptable status quo for health care in our state and across the nation.

While there is no quick fix for these deep and persistent challenges, we do have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve existing conditions here in Oregon. The proposed integration of Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Legacy Health will address some of our most urgent patient needs head on, ensure continued local control of major Oregon health care systems, and improve transparency and accountability.

Fundamentally, OHSU and Legacy’s complementary expertise will create a high-impact health care system driven by a mission of public service. OHSU brings experience serving complex patient needs, administering statewide health care training and education programs, and conducting leading-edge research. Legacy brings deep roots in providing high-quality, community-based care through its comprehensive system of hospitals, primary and specialty clinics, and outpatient facilities.

While some community members understandably have questions or concerns when they hear about health care mergers, several key factors set the OHSU-Legacy integration apart, including clearly stated benefits for the public, and a strong public service mission with real accountability.

As far as benefits for the public, OHSU and Legacy have outlined binding commitments and proposed metrics to track our progress on improving care for the people of Oregon through the new integrated system. For example, we have committed to reducing wait times for primary and preventive care, as well as the most specialized complex care. We are also committed to improving health outcomes for people underserved by the health care system, including people covered by Medicaid.

When it comes to accountability, we welcome state leaders and community members to track our progress and hold us to these goals. As a public entity, OHSU is subject to public records law and has governor-appointed leadership. Our mission to improve the health and well-being of Oregonians is even codified in state law. The new, combined health system will expand the reaches of this transparent and publicly accountable model.

Furthermore, this integration will support the region’s health care workforce and improve care for our patients. If the transaction is approved, OHSU will invest $1 billion in workforce, equipment and facilities at existing Legacy locations, which will provide access to high-quality care for more people, including Medicaid members.

All of the concrete commitments we have made set the proposed integration apart from typical health care mergers, and our unique accountability would ensure that the integrated public university health system delivers on its promises.

We welcome the robust review from the State of Oregon through its Health Care Market Oversight program, and we will continue to engage with transparency and in good faith as we work to earn approval by our proposed closing date of March 30, 2025. At the end of the day, we are confident that this combination will allow us to help more people — a goal we all share.