TOPEKA (AP) – Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has appointed a 20-member council to advise his administration as it overhauls the state’s $2.9 billion-a-year Medicaid program.

Council members announced Wednesday included the chairwomen of the Senate and House public health committees, Sen. Vicki Schmidt, a Topeka Republican, and Rep. Brenda Landwehr, a Wichita Republican.

Brownback also named Rep. Jerry Henry, of Cummings, the ranking Democrat on the House Social Services Budget Committee, and Sen. Alan Schmidt, a Hays Democrat.

Other members of the council represent health care providers and Medicaid participants.

Brownback’s administration expects to issue contracts this summer to three companies to manage the Medicaid program, which provides health coverage for the poor, disabled and elderly.

The governor’s office said the advisory council will have its first meeting later this month.