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We are now coming out of the legislative blackout period (now that the primary election is over) and will be resuming regular communications. I’m glad to be back in touch with you all.
There is a lot to catch up on! Here are some highlights from the last couple of months.
Oregon CPOM Law Prevails
First, some very cool news. You all remember the endless updates about Senate Bill 951, my Corporate Practice of Medicine bill. Well, less than a year after it passed, it faced its “first major test,” according to The Oregonian. And it passed!
If you haven’t read the article in The O, I highly recommend it – it’s well-written and captures a nuanced situation clearly and succinctly: ‘Watershed moment for Oregon’: State’s landmark corporate medicine law passes first major test
So what exactly happened?
The case centered on PeaceHealth’s decision to bring in ApolloMD, an out-of-state corporate entity, to replace local emergency room physicians in Eugene. The move raised serious concerns about local control of healthcare, continuity of care, and the growing influence of corporate entities in medical decision-making.
Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP), the longtime local emergency physician group, filed suit under SB 951. During the proceedings, U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai expressed significant concerns about the arrangement between PeaceHealth and ApolloMD, noting that SB 951 had “changed the landscape” for these types of corporate structures. He also questioned the independence of ApolloMD’s affiliated entities, observing that the lack of a written agreement between them suggested there was effectively “no light between those two groups.”
Following the proceedings, PeaceHealth entered into a settlement that reversed course and kept EEP in place as the emergency physician provider. Judge Kasubhai also ruled that ApolloMD would have no role in Eugene patient care moving forward.
Judge Kasubhai described SB 951 as “a wise and far-reaching decision Oregon undertook to protect patients and medicine from exactly what happened in this case.” You can imagine how validating that felt for me to read!
It’s important to note that this consolidation is not just happening in Eugene. It’s happening in Portland, Bend, and across the state and country.
And here’s what makes me a proud Oregonian: At a time when national trends are moving toward greater corporate consolidation in healthcare, Oregon has shown that another path is possible. I want to thank the healthcare workers in Eugene for their courage in fighting back. They were the underdogs here — and they won.
Continued Progress to Protect Abiqua Falls
Representative Bowman standing in front of Abiqua Falls.
I wanted to follow up on the effort to preserve Abiqua Falls for permanent public ownership. In my previous newsletter, I shared that the Legislature had included funding in the Capitol Construction budget to help move this acquisition forward (this was a big deal!). That funding represented a bipartisan step toward protecting one of Oregon’s most iconic natural landmarks.
Recently, I hiked down to Abiqua Falls with members of my staff and experienced firsthand the place we are working to preserve. It is genuinely such an incredible spot (although I will warn you, it’s very challenging to get to). We all have a stake in making sure this place can be enjoyed by Oregonians for decades.
There is still important work ahead as the acquisition process continues, but I’m incredibly proud to be part of this effort to protect public access and conservation of Abiqua Falls. My office will continue sharing updates along the way, including photos and videos from our recent visit, on my Instagram page.
Protecting Access to Essential Health Care
 I was proud to join Governor Tina Kotek, Dr. Sara Kennedy (CEO, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette), Amy Handler (CEO, Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon), and other health care providers and advocates for the signing of several important bills protecting and expanding access to essential health care in Oregon. At a time when federal actions are creating uncertainty for patients and providers, these new laws help ensure Oregonians can continue accessing reproductive health care, preventive screenings, vaccines, and gender-affirming care.
This includes House Bill 4127, which I was proud to lead and responds directly to federal efforts to defund Planned Parenthood services that many families rely on for cancer screenings, birth control, STI testing, and other preventive care. Oregon cannot afford to lose access to these essential services, particularly for patients who rely on the Oregon Health Plan for care.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund called this “the first time a state has passed a long-term, clear solution to the federal funding threats facing Planned Parenthood.”
Together, these new laws strengthen protections for providers, preserve access to critical health services, and reinforce Oregon’s commitment to evidence-based public health policy.
Politist: Conversations on Civic Participation
 Rep. Bowman, with State Secretary Tobias Read and Senator Courtney Neron Misslin
I was grateful to attend a recent community civics event hosted by Politisit at the Tualatin Hills Nature Center in Beaverton. The gathering brought together parents, caregivers, community members, and local leaders for a welcoming conversation about how government works and how everyday people can use it to advocate effectively.
I shared stories from meetings with constituents and community members who have brought forward policy ideas, concerns, and lived experiences that help shape my understanding of the challenges facing our district.
My office is always open to constituent communication. Whether you have a question, concern, or idea, we welcome hearing from you and working together to find solutions. You can share your ideas with me by emailing Rep.BenBowman@oregonlegisalture.gov.
A New Chapter in Portland Sports
 On May 9th, I had the opportunity to attend the Portland Fire game and help celebrate the return of women’s professional basketball to Oregon. The atmosphere in the arena was remarkable (a literal sell-out crowd!!), and it was exciting to see so many fans come together to support this new chapter for women’s sports in Portland.
I also participated in the “Chalk Talk” program before with team leadership – a very cool experience. It underscored for me how big of a deal this is for our region. One former Portland Fire player (from the 2000-2002 era) talked about how the players were told to go to local malls to give away free tickets to their games, and how frequently they were brushed off. Fast forward to today, and the entire region is ecstatic to have the Fire back – we have come a long way.
I’m grateful to Clare Hamill, President of the Fire, and to Lisa Bhathal Merage and Alex Bhathal, the owners, for the energy they are bringing to Portland. If you haven’t been to a game yet, I highly recommend it!
Conversations on Oregon’s Healthcare System
 I had the opportunity to speak on a panel at the Central Oregon Medical Society Spring Keynote Member Event in Bend, focused on “Navigating Healthcare Reform: Connecting Politics with Providers on the Frontline.”
Our state is facing significant challenges in healthcare. Skyrocketing costs, workforce pressures, and continued consolidation across the industry. While Oregon has made important progress in expanding coverage, families across the state still face significant barriers to accessing and affording care. The federal budget bill, HR1, has exacerbated this problem and will apply even more pressure on our system.
I was joined by Governor Kitzhaber, Dr. Bruce Goldberg, Dr. Tony Germann, and Dr. Steve Gordon – and I learned a lot from listening to each of them.
Celebrating Early Literacy in HD 25
 I recently attended a book event at Family Promise (11460 SW Pacific Hwy), an organization doing important work in our district supporting families experiencing housing instability by helping them access resources and a path toward long-term self-sufficiency. At the event, Tigard Library, United Way, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library came together to engage with families at Family Promise with reading materials and Imagination Library applications.
It was cool to see our work in the legislature show up tangibly in the district.
‘Watershed moment for Oregon’: State’s landmark corporate medicine law passes first major test
- Oregonian | May 6
- “Today’s decision is a watershed moment for Oregon,” [Majority Leader Ben] Bowman said. “Less than a year after it passed, Oregon’s law worked. After a decades-long trend of corporatization in healthcare, we are now moving in the opposite direction – back to physician-directed, patient-centered healthcare.”
Small Doses: House Majority Leader Bowman jumps into ApolloMD case
- Lund Report | Apr. 30
- “Lawmakers, including Bowman — who spearheaded the law — have said ApolloMD arrangement is exactly the kind of thing the law sought to block. But PeaceHealth lawyers claim the statute was never intended to permit enforcement through civil actions brought by private citizens or organizations, as the case brought by the doctors’ group seeks to do.”
PeaceHealth leadership under fire after executive placed on leave
- Register-Guard | Apr. 12
- "This revelation raises alarming questions about PeaceHealth's decision to drop Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP) and replace them with ApolloMD," [Majority Leader Ben] Bowman said. "Was it retaliation for EEP doctors not complying with medical directives from unlicensed administrators? What conversations did Mr. McGovern have with ApolloMD about his role in medical decision-making?"
ApolloMD responds to lawmakers' probes, raises 'more questions than answers'
- KLCC | Mar. 12
- “Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, was lead author of Senate Bill 951, a 2025 law designed to prevent the corporate practice of medicine in Oregon. On Feb. 4, PeaceHealth announced its intention to end a 35-year emergency medicine contract with locally-owned Eugene Emergency Physicians and install ApolloMD, a healthcare staffing company that Bowman had never heard of. In late February, Bowman, along with Eugene Democratic Reps. Lisa Fragala and Nancy Nathanson, co-authored a letter to ApolloMD, in which they cited concerns about the potential impact of experienced emergency physicians being displaced and asked the company to provide proof of compliance with state laws.”
Thanks for reading!
 Ben Bowman
State Representative House District 25
House Majority Leader
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1425
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-295, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.BenBowman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bowman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RepBenBowman
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rep.benbowman
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/repbenbowman.bsky.social
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