Trump administration again slashes funding for Obamacare program that helps Wisconsinites find health coverage

A Wisconsin program that helps people sign up for health insurance will likely face steep cuts later this year, following an announcement that the federal government would slash its funding.

This month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said it would cut funding nationwide for navigator programs, which help enroll people in health coverage, to $10 million, a drop of about 90%.

"A cut of this size will impact our ability to provide all the services and all the information in as timely a way as possible," said Allison Espeseth, director of Covering Wisconsin, the navigator program for the state.

Federal funding makes up about three-quarters of Covering Wisconsin's budget, Espeseth said. The cuts would occur starting in its next budget cycle in late August, she said.

Last budget cycle, Covering Wisconsin received a grant of $3.1 million from the federal government for the year, according to federal data. A cut of 90% would leave about $300,000.

In its press release, CMS said the current funding levels don't “represent a reasonable return on investment" and that reducing the program's budget will save $360 million over the next four years.