Salem, Oregon – A fight Oregon lawmakers began at the state level is now moving onto the national stage. More than a year after Oregon adopted new restrictions on corporate control of medical practices, members of Congress have introduced legislation built around the same approach.
The debate comes as ownership of physician practices continues to shift. Sponsors of the federal proposal say more than 80% of U.S. doctors are now employed by corporate entities, including insurers and private equity-backed organizations, compared with 62% in 2019.
The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, introduced in Congress on Sept. 16, would establish protections intended to keep medical decisions and control of physician practices in the hands of licensed health professionals. The House version, H.R. 10444, was introduced by Oregon Rep. Val Hoyle and referred to the House Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means committees.
Read also: Oregon recognizes CERT volunteers who prepare communities for the critical first hours of disaster
The federal proposal is modeled after Oregon’s Senate Bill 951, which Gov. Tina Kotek signed on June 9, 2025. The state law targets the so-called “straw doctor” structure, in which a physician may formally own a medical practice while a corporation or private equity-backed management company exercises substantial control behind the scenes.
“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,” Kotek said.
“Oregon’s law is a blueprint for fighting for everyday Americans. I urge Congressional leadership to act swiftly to move this legislation forward.”
Oregon officials say the law has already played a role in a dispute involving PeaceHealth and Eugene Emergency Physicians in Lane County, which became an early test of the protections.
Supporters in Congress argue the federal measure would prevent financial owners from having the final say over decisions that should remain with physicians. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said patients should know their health decisions are being made by doctors rather than Wall Street investors.
Hoyle pointed to the rapid growth of corporate employment among physicians, saying health care “should not be a line item in a spreadsheet.” Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley also backed the proposal, while Rep. Maxine Dexter, a physician who worked on the Oregon legislation, said medical decisions must remain between patients and their doctors.
Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, a leading advocate of SB 951, said he plans to continue working on state protections while the federal proposal begins its path through Congress.
