INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The head of the state Family and Social Services Administration says the federal government is expected to approve an extension of the Healthy Indiana Plan, but a request to use the plan for an Indiana Medicaid expansion could take much longer.

FSSA Secretary Debra Minott told members of the General Assembly’s Health Finance Commission on Tuesday that the state’s health care leaders were encouraged following a meeting with federal officials June 20. Minott says Gov. Mike Pence directed her and others to ensure those already enrolled in HIP are secure before negotiating an expansion through the program.

The state applied this year to use the hybrid health savings account program to cover the additional 400,000 residents who would qualify for the expansion included in the federal health care reform.