SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Expanding the state’s Medi-Cal program to meet new federal guidelines could increase costs by up to $4 billion a year at the same time California is implementing federal health reform, potentially putting its budget “right out of whack” if negotiations over the so-called fiscal cliff aren’t favorable, Gov. Jerry Brown said Thursday.

In a telephone interview with The Associated Press, Brown said his administration is seeking federal waivers for some of the proposed expansions to California’s health care program for the poor. The changes could add more than a million people to the 7.7 million already served under the state’s version of Medicaid.