ApolloMD defends its record as it prepares to enter Oregon health care

ApolloMD, the Atlanta-based company PeaceHealth hired to operate its emergency departments, defended its reputation and distanced itself from charges it’s connected to private equity in a response to questions from Oregon lawmakers.

The company’s five-page letter, released Monday, March 9, comes as PeaceHealth intends to end a 35-year contract with Eugene Emergency Physicians and install ApolloMD as at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend in Springfield, Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence, and at Cottage Grove Community Medical Center. 

House Majority Leader Ben Bowman, D-Tigard, and state Reps. Lisa Fragala and Nancy Nathanson, both Democrats from Eugene, had requested more information from the company in a Feb. 24 letter, citing concerns about the potential impact of experienced emergency medical doctors leaving the community.

The lawmakers’ letter also said more information is needed to ensure compliance with Senate Bill 951, a state law passed in 2025 to prevent private equity firms from running health care.

Oregon Senate Bill 951 sets some of the nation’s strongest regulations on private and corporate control of medical practices. The bill closes a loophole that has allowed private equity firms and corporations to appear compliant by naming physicians — sometimes with limited or no authority — as clinic owners on paper. 

Questions from lawmakers and their constituents about ApolloMD and its involvement with private equity stem in part from financial database listings. PitchBook, an industry source for private market data, shows the company raised $11.46 million through private equity growth and expansion deals between 2015 and last year. ApolloMD maintains these filings are not private equity.

PeaceHealth selected ApolloMD to support the start of a physician-owned entity, Lane Emergency Physicians LLC and to “provide non-clinical administrative services,” according to the March 6 letter signed by ApolloMD CEO Dr. Yogin Patel.

“All clinical judgment, patient care decisions, medical direction, and professional responsibilities will remain exclusively with Lane’s licensed Oregon physician owner and its clinicians, in full compliance with Oregon law, including Senate Bill 951,” the letter said. “We are finalizing the formal governance and operational agreements and anticipate completion well before the June 1st and July 1st, 2026, service commencement dates.”

The letter from lawmakers sought information about the ownership structure of Lane Emergency Physicians LLC, including the names and medical license numbers of physician owners.

Dr. Johne Philip Chapman, will be the “sole owner and member of Lane,” the letter said. Chapman, a board-certified emergency medical physician in Illinois, has a pending medical license application in Oregon and it “will be finalized prior to assuming ownership and well before any services are provided at PeaceHealth facilities. Upon completion, we will provide his Oregon license number and ownership documentation under separate cover or in a confidential briefing,” the letter said.

An ApolloMD article about Chapman says he started a health care information technology career before entering emergency medicine as a second act. 

Asked about the governance structure, the company said “Chapman will also serve as the sole manager and hold all officer positions for Lane. This structure ensures direct physician control over all governance matters.”

Only Chapman may transfer ownership interests or appoint and remove managers and officers, the letter said.

ApolloMD and its affiliates “have no role whatsoever in Lane’s governance, ownership decisions, or officer appointments,” the letter said.

Lane Emergency Physicians and Apollo Business Services, known as ABS, are finalizing the administrative services agreement, the letter said. 

ABS will have no authority over the practice of medicine, delivery of health care services, testing and diagnostic procedure or medical equipment, the letter said. ABS will be involved in administrative tasks that include billing and connections, human resources, recruitment and data management.

The company pushed back against the insinuation it has ties to private equity. 

“Over the past several weeks, including during yesterday’s Senate hearing, there have been repeated references to ApolloMD’s alleged affiliation with private equity,” the letter said. “We take this opportunity to state unequivocally that we are a privately held company that is not, and has never been, under private equity ownership or control. We are, and have always been, privately held since our humble beginnings operating out of the basement of our first hospital partner. Although private equity firms have periodically approached us over our 40+ year history, we have never pursued or accepted such investment.”

ApolloMD is owned by more than 300 of its physicians, advanced practice clinicians and employees, “some of which hold their ownership interests indirectly through holding companies,” the letter said.

“We also share concerns about private equity influence in healthcare and are dedicated to ensuring clinical decisions remain independent and in the best interest of patients,” the letter said.

The letter also references ApolloMD’s connection to an Atlanta-based company named ValorBridge Partners, a private holding company founded in 2004.

The company said ValorBridge is “ApolloMD’s legacy ownership entity through which our founders and active physician leaders originally invested in ApolloMD, as well as unrelated business opportunities. ValorBridge is similarly not owned nor associated with any outside private equity and has no external stakeholders.”

Correspondent Ashli Blow contributed to this report.