Welcome to Relocalizing Health, where we explore how communities are reclaiming control over healthcare and rebuilding systems that truly serve people. In this episode, host Dave Chase welcomes Patrick Blackaller, the driving force behind the Employer Healthcare Cooperative of Wisconsin. Together, they dive into the journey of transforming healthcare for schools and employers in Wisconsin, shifting from an extractive industry toward a model that prioritizes care, cost transparency, and community partnerships.
You'll hear honest reflections on the tough choices and personal stories that sparked this movement, including the profound impact of rising costs and restrictive insurance plans on real people. Patrick Blackaller shares how direct contracts, innovative clinics, and new pharmacy approaches are not only saving millions but also bringing dignity and access back into healthcare. This episode is packed with lessons on pioneering change, even in the face of skepticism, and offers a blueprint for other communities ready to take bold steps toward a better future.
Timestamps:
00:00 "Rural School Struggles with Healthcare"
05:04 "Creating Care Through Self-Funding"
09:14 Overcoming Skepticism to Find Support
12:50 Affordable Medication Access Strategies
14:23 "Optimizing Health Plans Affordably"
17:10 Streamlining Healthcare Navigation and Education
20:30 Healthcare Spending and Employer Insights
23:51 "Optimizing Quality and Cost Balance"
27:21 Perseverance Through Challenges
31:23 Purpose-Driven Leadership Strategies
35:21 "Relocalizing Health: American Comeback"
Insights from the Podcast: How Wisconsin Communities Are Taking Back Healthcare
On a recent episode of Relocalizing Health, host Dave Chase sat down with Patrick Blackaller, the driving force behind the Employer Healthcare Cooperative of Wisconsin. Together, they explored how local communities are actively reshaping healthcare delivery and finding better solutions for their employees and families. The episode is a powerful testament to what happens when people come together to tackle healthcare challenges head-on.
The Challenges Facing Wisconsin Employers
Before launching the cooperative, Patrick Blackaller, as CFO of the Rice Lake School District, witnessed firsthand the dire consequences of rising healthcare costs. Annual rate increases climbed as high as 10 to 15 percent, forcing painful choices between maintaining healthcare benefits and cutting staff. The landscape was dominated by system-owned practices, making it nearly impossible to find care outside the major healthcare networks.
A particularly heartbreaking story shaped Patrick Blackaller's commitment to change. He recalled talking with an employee who couldn’t afford the new plan’s deductible and ultimately chose not to seek care. Two years later, she passed away, a tragedy attributed to a lack of accessible healthcare benefits. This experience became the catalyst for Patrick Blackaller to search for better ways to serve employees.
Creating Direct Relationships and New Solutions
The journey to improved care began with a push for self-funding and the creation of onsite clinics. By establishing direct contracts with providers, the Rice Lake School District dramatically reduced medication spending from $750,000 to $250,000 while also enhancing access and affordability. This creative approach depended on finding brokers and pharmacy benefit managers willing to work outside the traditional framework, a challenge that paid off enormously.
Sharing these benefits led to the idea of forming a cooperative. When other employers saw the value of direct contracts and onsite clinics, they opted to join forces. The cooperative model ensured every member shared equally in the cost savings and improved care, making healthcare more local and less extractive.
Bringing Care Back into Healthcare
A key insight from the episode is the importance of making healthcare plans serve those they’re designed to help. Onsite clinics, staffed by primary care providers dedicated to treating members like family, became a cornerstone of the cooperative’s approach. According to Patrick Blackaller, this model provides a higher level of care than the impersonal systems dominating the industry, leading to improved health outcomes and a stronger sense of community.
The cooperative also tackled barriers in prescription drug access. By partnering with pharmacy benefit managers focused on affordability and integrating free dispensaries in clinics, members gained access to essential medications without out-of-pocket costs. The result is fewer unmet deductibles and financial burdens, with less than ten percent of members now paying anything toward their deductible.
Success Stories and Tangible Results
The impact goes beyond numbers. The cooperative has uncovered treatable cancers during routine visits, saving lives that might otherwise have been lost. Employers who were once skeptical now see their healthcare spend drop dramatically. For example, Rice Lake School District cut costs from $5 million to $2.5 million in a single year and continues to spend less than it did prior to the cooperative's founding.
Personal stories emerged of employees who previously opposed the changes coming forward to thank Patrick Blackaller for his persistence and vision. The transformation created a ripple effect of improved morale and financial stability for employees, families, and entire school districts.
Building for the Future of Wisconsin Healthcare
Looking ahead, Patrick Blackaller envisions the cooperative gaining enough critical mass to influence major healthcare systems and even potentially build new healthcare infrastructure if current providers fail to adapt. By creating partnerships with local providers and surgery centers, communities are reclaiming the value lost to distant organizations. The goal is to keep resources within Wisconsin, improving care and economic outcomes for all.
Conclusion: The Power of Local Solutions
The Relocalizing Health podcast episode highlights how committed leaders can transform healthcare by prioritizing care, affordability, and local collaboration. Dave Chase and Patrick Blackaller demonstrate that by stepping outside the status quo, communities can build systems that put people first and achieve results previously thought impossible.
If you are an employer, benefits manager, or policymaker seeking a better way, learn more from these pioneers. Join the movement to relocalize health and create stronger, healthier communities in Wisconsin and beyond.
Learn More:
RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/
Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/
Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/
Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/
Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/
Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/