(1) Following a compliance audit by Washington vaccine association pursuant to RCW 70.290.060 and upon certification of the audit costs, the Washington vaccine association shall notify the health carrier or third-party administrator in writing that there is an outstanding obligation to reimburse the Washington vaccine association for the cost of the audit.

(2) The health carrier or third-party administrator must reimburse the Washington vaccine association for the cost of the audit within forty-five days after receiving written notice of the obligation.

(3) The Washington vaccine association shall notify the secretary if the health carrier or third-party administrator fails to timely reimburse the Washington vaccine association for the cost of the audit. Upon receipt of such notice, the secretary shall assess a civil penalty of one hundred fifty percent of the amount of the costs of the audit against the health carrier or third-party administrator.

(4) The secretary shall serve notice of the civil penalty for failure to pay the audit costs in writing upon the health carrier or third-party administrator by personal service or by certified mail in a manner that shows proof of receipt. The civil penalty is due and payable twenty-eight days at the place specified in the notice after receipt by the health carrier or third-party administrator.

(5) A health carrier or third-party administrator who has received written notification of an assessed civil penalty according to this section may request a brief adjudicative proceeding pursuant to WAC 246-120-050. The sole issue at the brief adjudicative proceeding shall be whether the health carrier or third-party administrator paid the cost of the audit in the required time and manner.