A letter to our community

Our top priority: Ensuring your access to essential care 

March 13, 2026 

By Merrin Permut, Vice President & Chief Population Health Officer 

Legacy and Regence are negotiating a new contract that will determine how much Regence pays Legacy for the care we provide to their members. Legacy is requesting a fair, reasonable increase to address ongoing financial challenges due to rising costs from labor,suppliesand regulatory demands. However, Regence has indicated so far that they do not support our request to fairly raise reimbursement. 

If an agreement is not reached before April 1, Legacy hospital services and some clinics may remain in-network for Regence members for an additional 12 months, while other services will be out of network. Being out-of-network means that you may have to pay more money out of pocket for services at Legacy. 

Access to quality health care close to home is essential for all of us, and it is critical for patients with specific health needs who must continue seeing the doctors, nurses and medical assistants who understand their needs. 

Talks continue without agreement 

We know and regret that this contract negotiation with Regence may cause anxiety and confusion. Legacy Health continues to be in regular conversations with Regence to reach a positive outcome so that no Regence member experiences a gap in care. 

As a reminder, if you receive care at a Legacy hospital or clinic in the Silverton area, you can continue to see your Legacy providers and access services as usual. Please review our FAQ to learn more. 

What this could mean for you 

If our contract with Regence ends after March 31, we’re concerned about how it may affect your care: 

• Disrupting your relationship with your doctor: If you’re forced to find a new doctor, you will lose the benefit of working with your Legacy care team who knows your history and understands your health needs. 

• Delays in getting care: The unfortunate reality is that patients don’t have enough access to doctors and nurses. That’s true in many parts of the country and it’s especially true in our communities. Patients often face long wait times to see a new primary care doctor, and we’ve already heard that other local providers may not have room to take more Regence patients at this time. 

• Traveling farther to receive care: As a community hospital system, Legacy offers quality care close to home through our six hospitals and more than 80 clinics offering primary care, specialty care and Legacy-GoHealth Urgent Care centers. For some medical needs, such as in-patient rehab care, certain pediatric specialties and the Oregon Burn Center, we’re the only provider in the region. Regence members may have to travel farther for care if our contract ends.  

Continuity of care may be available 

Certain patients, such as those receiving cancer treatment or pregnancy-related care, may get exceptions from Regence that allows them to continue receiving care from their Legacy doctors with in-network insurance coverage. This is known as continuity of care. However, it’s important to know that this is a short-term solution and requires approval from Regence and will only extend services for a specific period of time.  

If you are being treated for any condition that requires ongoing care and you have questions about your insurance coverage, call Regence at the number on the back of your member ID card.  

We need a fair, reasonable contract with Regence to ensure access 

To ensure that you and your family have access to the care you need with your trusted health partner, we urge Regence to agree to a sustainable reimbursement increase that reflects the consistent value and actual cost of care we provide. 

We need your help to achieve this. Here’s how: 

• Contact Regence using the phone number on the back of your member ID card and ask them to support Legacy’s request for a sustainable payment increase. 

• Tell Regence how important Legacy is to you and your family and urge them to reach an agreement before March 31, 2026. 

• Share your feedback and concerns with your employer. Employers often have influence over health plan choices. 

At Legacy, we are here for good. That means we support the health of all our people, our patients and our communities. We are committed to reaching contracts with insurers that put patients and communities first. We will remain at the table with Regence to ensure you are at the heart of fair and equitable reimbursement. Thank you for trusting us with your care. 

Merrin Permut, MHA
Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer
Legacy Health