DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad met with a top federal official in Washington to promote Iowa’s Medicaid privatization effort, which has come under scrutiny over the speed of the transition.

Branstad said Tuesday that he met with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell. He said he stressed the transition plans as the state moves its $4.2 billion Medicaid program to private companies, including that patients can keep current providers for a period of time.

Last week, federal officials expressed concerns about the timetable for the changes, slated to take place January 1st.

A group of Iowa hospitals have sued seeking to halt or delay the process. In the suit, filed last week, the hospitals argue the new system would improperly use money from a trust fund they contribute to.