Amend CSHB 1 in Article II of the bill, following the appropriations to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) by adding the following appropriately numbered rider:

____. Medicaid Waiver For Certain Populations. Contingent on findings that a Medicaid waiver for the below populations is cost effective and feasible, the Health and Human Services Commission may seek a Medicaid waiver or waivers from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Medicaid waiver(s) should incorporate the following principles without reducing the health benefit plan for already eligible enrollees:

(a)  efficiently leverage state, local, federal and other funding to enable local government funds to be maximized by qualifying for federal Medicaid matching funds:

(1)  increase state flexibility in its use of Medicaid funding for those certain populations;

(2)  allow the state to be a more prudent purchaser and payer of health care for those certain populations;

(3)  ensure Medicaid coverage for those certain populations;

(b)  cover through Medicaid the following certain populations:

(1)  Individuals receiving mental health services on the county level up to 200 percent FPL

(2)  Individuals receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS up to 150 percent FPL

(c)  solicit broad-based stakeholder input.

Further it is the intent of the Legislature that in leveraging state, local, and other funding that the Commission employ the use of intergovernmental transfers and other procedures to ensure the highest level of federal match for the certain populations.