When people in Oregon run into roadblocks navigating the health services they depend on, Oregon Health Authority (OHA)’s Ombuds Program is often the place they turn for help. Behind every call is a real person trying to find stability, care, or clarity in a system that can feel overwhelming.
A new report from the OHA Ombuds Program covers trends in cases from January through June 2025 and shines a light on the real-world challenges people face—and the work being done to make things better. In just six months, the program helped 1,396 people, resolving almost 1,000 concerns from Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members alone.
Housing support brings hope
For many, 2025 brought new hope through Health-Related Social Needs (HSRN) housing benefits. These benefits help people facing homelessness or struggling to keep stable housing. As more people applied, especially in the Portland metro area, the Ombuds Program became an important resource for members who had trouble getting the help they needed.
Of the 265 people who reached out about HRSN housing benefits, almost half were OHP members living in the Portland Metro area. Their stories helped OHA identify problems like slow processing times, approval barriers, and a shortage of providers. OHA worked directly with the coordinated care organization (CCO) to improve these issues so members could get housing help faster.
A lifeline for people living in Oregon
The Ombuds Program does more than solve individual problems. It lifts up the voices and experiences of OHP members and shares them with OHA programs and leadership, oversight committees such as the Oregon Health Policy Board, and the Governor. These real-life stories help guide improvements across the health system.
For many people, this advocacy is more than a service, it’s a lifeline. Each call to the Ombuds Program starts with a question, a moment of frustration, or a fear, and leads to someone finally feeling heard, and options that can help many others.
We created a video to help people learn more about the OHA Ombuds Program. You can also visit the Ombuds Program website.
To connect with the OHA Ombuds Program, email OHA.OmbudsOffice@odhsoha.oregon.gov or call 1-877-642-0450.