TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- Gov. Sam Brownback's administration is trying to reassure Kansas legislators that Medicaid participants won't suffer if the federal government delays an overhaul of the program.

State Division of Health Care Finance Director Kari Bruffett said Wednesday that services won't be interrupted if the state can't go ahead with its Medicaid overhaul in January as planned.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/ThowWF ) Bruffett told the Legislative Budget Committee that the state remains committed to the Jan. 1 start date. Critics say Brownback's administration is moving too quickly, which it denies.

Brownback plans to turn administration of the $2.9 billion-a-year Medicaid program over to three private companies. Medicaid covers health care for poor, disabled and elderly Kansans.

The state needs the federal government to waive some of its rules to implement its program.