1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I am writing to you as a physician to urge you to support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026, which would establish strong federal protections against the corporate practice of medicine. I believe that decisions about a patient's medical care should ultimately be made by physicians in partnership with their patients—not by private equity firms, insurance companies, or corporate management organizations whose financial interests may conflict with the needs of patients and clinicians. The growing consolidation of medical practices raises important concerns about physician independence, patient access, affordability, staffing, and the quality of care. When corporations are able to exercise control over hiring and firing, physician compensation, scheduling, billing, revenue targets, and other aspects of medical practice, financial considerations can increasingly influence decisions that should be guided by medical judgment and patient needs. I am particularly supportive of the bill's provisions that would: • Prohibit private equity firms, insurance companies, and other for-profit corporations from owning or controlling medical practices; • Close the “friendly physician” loophole and prevent management services organizations from exercising de facto control over medical practices; • Protect physicians' authority over clinical decisions, staffing, compensation, scheduling, and other essential practice matters; and • Protect physicians from restrictive contractual provisions that can interfere with their professional independence. The legislation is modeled in part on Oregon's efforts to address corporate control of medical practices. Its sponsors have emphasized that the goal is to ensure that medical decisions remain in the hands of physicians rather than corporate entities. I urge you to support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026 and to work toward its passage. Patients deserve a health care system in which the doctor-patient relationship remains central and physicians can exercise independent professional judgment on behalf of the people they serve. Thank you for your consideration and for your work on behalf of Californians.