Rep. Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, is under pressure from industry lobbyists to kill a bill that would limit private equity stakes in health care practices. (Amanda Loman/Oregon Capital Chronicle)
An Oregon lawmaker, backed by high-profile health care leaders, is pushing a bill to keep private investors and corporations focused on profits from buying out medical practices that put patient care first.
Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, argued in favor of House Bill 4130 last week, flanked by former Gov. John Kitzhaber and Dr. Bruce Goldberg, former director of the Oregon Health Authority. Bowman told legislators on the House Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee that his bill would stop private equity firms and large corporations from controlling Oregon medical practices, a trend that worries many analysts. One study published last year found that in about one-third of the country’s metropolitan areas, a private equity firm owns 30% of the medical practices. And in 13%, private investors owned a half.