Northwest Permanente and The Permanente Medical Group Unite for Enhanced Healthcare Quality and Innovation

Major Affiliation in Healthcare: Northwest Permanente Joins Forces with The Permanente Medical Group

In an exciting development for the healthcare landscape in the Pacific Northwest, Northwest Permanente (NWP), based in Oregon, has announced a formal affiliation with The Permanente Medical Group (TPMG) from Northern California. This strategic partnership, revealed on April 16, 2025, seeks to enhance the quality of healthcare and drive innovation in patient services across the regions served by both organizations.

Shared Vision for Quality Care

NWP and TPMG are prominent physician-led, independent medical groups that work exclusively alongside the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan to deliver exceptional care to their patients. NWP operates primarily in Oregon and parts of southwest Washington, while TPMG provides care to members across Northern California. With this merger, both entities aspire to create a cohesive approach to healthcare that prioritizes high-value, quality-driven services tailored to meet the needs of their communities.

Leong Koh, MD, who serves as the executive medical director of Northwest Permanente, emphasized that the healthcare industry is currently witnessing significant transformations. "Consolidations of hospitals and medical groups are commonplace in the United States, often motivated by factors like size, scale, and financial gain. However, what sets our affiliation apart is our mutual dedication to value-based care," said Dr. Koh. This shared commitment to delivering superior clinical outcomes distinguishes NWP and TPMG in an increasingly competitive healthcare market.

Driving Innovation Through Collaboration

Following this affiliation, Dr. Maria Ansari, currently the CEO and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group, will also assume CEO responsibilities at Northwest Permanente. Dr. Ansari expressed optimism regarding the opportunities this partnership presents. "When like-minded physicians collaborate, innovation and performance flourish. Preserving our autonomy in practicing the medicine we believe in is the essence of Permanente Medicine. Through this union, we aim to introduce cutting-edge technologies, enhanced virtual care capabilities, and a diverse range of specialties to better serve Oregon and southwest Washington communities."

NWP stands as the largest independent multispecialty medical group in its service area, boasting a rich history of over 80 years of performance excellence and growth. With a team of more than 1,300 physicians across 54 specialties, NWP serves over 612,000 Kaiser Permanente members regionally. In contrast, TPMG employs nearly 10,000 physicians across 116 specialties, supporting around 4.6 million members in California.

Recognizing Excellence in Care

Both NWP and TPMG have achieved remarkable accolades for their commitment to high-quality care. Notably, Kaiser Permanente in Northern California earned a commendable 4.5-star rating out of a possible 5 in the 2025 Star Ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Furthermore, the organization received the highest ratings for its Medicare and Commercial plans in California according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for nine consecutive years, reinforcing their status as leaders in the field.

This latest affiliation aligns with TPMG's ongoing relationship with the Maryland-based Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group (MAPMG), which consists of approximately 1,800 physicians in 60 specialties, providing care for over 768,000 Kaiser Permanente members.

The partnership has been officially approved by the Oregon Health Authority's Healthcare Market Oversight Program (HCMO) as of April 11, 2025, marking a new chapter for both Northwest Permanente and The Permanente Medical Group in their quest to deliver even better healthcare outcomes.

A Shared Commitment to the Future

Through this strategic alliance, NWP and TPMG demonstrate a collaborative spirit that is essential in today’s healthcare environment. By combining their resources, knowledge, and innovative ideas, both groups aim to elevate healthcare delivery, ensuring continued excellence in patient care and enhanced access to services for their communities in Oregon and Northern California. As they embark on this journey together, both management and physicians remain dedicated to the mission of improving the health of their patients, making this affiliation a promising beginning for future advancements in healthcare.