Amend CSHB 1 (house committee printing) in Article II of the bill, following the appropriations to the Health and Human Services Commission (page II-73), by adding the following appropriately numbered rider:

____. Claims Administrator Costs. (a) Out of funds appropriated above in Strategy B.3.1, Medicaid Contracts and Administration, the Health and Human Services Commission shall spend the amount necessary, not to exceed $44,600,157 in general revenue appropriations or $189,228,307 in appropriations from all funds, during the state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2017, to fund claims administrator costs, including costs necessary to ensure:

(1)  the implementation of an electronic visit and verification system;

(2)  compliance with federal law requirements relating to provider reenrollment;

(3)  the employment of additional skilled professionals necessary to evaluate prior authorization requests;

(4)  the implementation of management programs to ensure key metrics are met; and

(5)  the payment of increased lease costs.

(b) Disbursement of funds under this rider is contingent upon the Health and Human Services Commission initiating any applicable statutorily required procurement processes, including any competitive bidding process that may be required, in order to fulfill the goals of this rider.