LA CROSSE and EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Local ballot measures to implement Healthcare Action Plans in Eau Claire and La Crosse will officially appear on the November ballot, following 13,000 citizens demanding action to improve healthcare access and affordability. These measures are a response to take local action after votes taken by Republicans in Congress that have led to higher costs and less access. 

The La Crosse Common Council voted last night to advance the proposal. The Eau Claire City Council voted Tuesday evening to also put the proposal in front of voters this November.

The measures establish a two-year, community-driven process to diagnose local healthcare access and affordability challenges, assess the impact of recent policy decisions, and develop concrete recommendations. These action plans consider local data and public input in order to identify solutions that can actually be implemented in the community. 

“Healthcare is too expensive, difficult to access, and Wisconsinites are demanding a real fix to this crisis. That’s why over 13,000 La Crosse and Eau Claire residents signed the petition to advance Local Healthcare Action Plans,” said Sam Roecker, a spokesperson for Community Action Wisconsin. “This is a crisis created by Congressman Van Orden’s votes that made historic cuts to healthcare for his constituents. While we can’t repair all the damage that has been done by Washington, this is a step in the right direction and gives communities the opportunity to improve care and solve challenges that are unique to them.”

Local Healthcare Action Plans are a direct response to Congress’s failure. Rep. Derrick Van Orden voted for funding cuts that strip an estimated 54,000 Wisconsinites of Medicaid coverage and end Affordable Care Act tax credits that will lead to more than 300,000 Wisconsinites paying two or three times higher premiums. Medical costs in Wisconsin have risen 140% since 2000, far outpacing the 83% growth in household income over the same period.

“Physicians see the impact of these cuts every day. People are forced to delay care, ration medication, or avoid the doctor’s office altogether because they’re afraid of the bill,” said Dr. Bob Freedland of La Crosse. “This measure gives our community a real seat at the table to understand what’s driving these costs locally and push for solutions that actually help people.”

“Healthcare costs are one of the biggest financial pressures facing working families and small businesses across Wisconsin,” said Shawn Phetteplace, National Campaigns Director for Main Street Action, which represents dozens of small businesses across La Crosse. “This isn’t about politics. It’s about giving regular people a way to hold decision-makers accountable and build local solutions when Washington isn’t getting the job done. We’re proud to support the Local Healthcare Action Plan and excited to work with our members to pass it in November.”

With the council votes complete, the measure now heads to voters on the November 2026 ballot in both La Crosse and Eau Claire. The Local Healthcare Action Plan reached the ballot through Wisconsin’s direct legislation process, which allows citizens to propose ordinances directly to their city council by gathering signatures from registered voters. Over the past few months, volunteers and organizers with Community Action Wisconsin collected 5,045 signatures in La Crosse and 8,163 signatures in Eau Claire. 

More information about Community Action Wisconsin is available at communityactionwi.org.