The federal government promised to treat Texas fairly as the state pursues renewal of a waiver that gives funding to hospitals to care for the uninsured.

A Texas lawmaker was wary that the waiver wouldn't be renewed next year or would be delayed.

There are "rumors that because Texas is such a red state, that application is being frowned upon," said Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, during a hearing Wednesday of a subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Barton may be spooked by what happened in Florida earlier this year. The Sunshine State also has a waiver, but the federal government initially declined to renew it in a move Republican Gov. Rick Scott claimed was to get Florida to expand Medicaid.

Eventually the federal government agreed to provide the funding, but at a lower cost.

An official with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services promised that Texas would be treated fairly when the application is being processed.

"We work with all states and achieve the objectives in the Medicaid program," said Vikki Wachino, deputy administrator for CMS.

Texas is one of 21 states that has refused to expand Medicaid under Obamacare.