(1) When the authority determines that a vendor was overpaid by the authority for either goods or services, or both, provided to authority clients, except nursing homes under chapter
74.46 RCW, the authority shall give written notice to the vendor. The notice must include the amount of the overpayment, the basis for the claim, and the rights of the vendor under this section.
(2) The notice may be served upon the vendor in the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in civil action or be mailed to the vendor at the last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested, demanding payment within twenty days of the date of receipt.
(3) The vendor has the right to an adjudicative proceeding governed by the administrative procedure act, chapter
34.05 RCW, and the rules of the authority. The vendor's application for an adjudicative proceeding must be in writing, state the basis for contesting the overpayment notice, and include a copy of the authority's notice. The application must be served on and received by the authority within twenty-eight days of the vendor's receipt of the notice of overpayment. The vendor must serve the authority in a manner providing proof of receipt.
(4) Where an adjudicative proceeding has been requested, the presiding or reviewing officer shall determine the amount, if any, of the overpayment received by the vendor.
(5) If the vendor fails to attend or participate in the adjudicative proceeding, upon a showing of valid service, the presiding or reviewing officer may enter an administrative order declaring the amount claimed in the notice to be assessed against the vendor and subject to collection action by the authority.
(6) Failure to make an application for an adjudicative proceeding within twenty-eight days of the date of notice results in the establishment of a final debt against the vendor in the amount asserted by the authority and that amount is subject to collection action. The authority may also charge the vendor with any costs associated with the collection of any final overpayment or debt established against the vendor.
(7) The authority may enforce a final overpayment or debt through lien and foreclosure, distraint, seizure and sale, order to withhold and deliver, or other collection action available to the authority to satisfy the debt due.
(8) Debts determined under this chapter are subject to collection action without further necessity of action by a presiding or reviewing officer. The authority may collect the debt in accordance with RCW
41.05A.120,
41.05A.130, and
41.05A.180. In addition, a vendor lien may be subject to distraint and seizure and sale in the same manner as prescribed for support liens in RCW
74.20A.130.
(9) Chapter 66, Laws of 1998 applies to overpayments for goods or services provided on or after July 1, 1998.
(10) The authority may adopt rules consistent with this section.
