Penalty—Failure to remit assessment.
(1) Following Washington vaccine association's notice of assessment pursuant to RCW
70.290.060 and the plan of operation, the health carrier or third-party administrator must remit the amount of the assessment to the Washington vaccine association within ninety days after receiving the written notice or timely pay in accordance with an approved payment plan with the Washington vaccine association.
(2) The Washington vaccine association shall notify the secretary if the health carrier or third-party administrator fails to pay the amount of the assessment or, after notification from the Washington vaccine association to the health carrier or third-party administrator of an outstanding obligation, the amount owed on the approved payment plan. The notice must provide the amount due to the Washington vaccine association. Upon receipt of such notice, the secretary shall assess a civil penalty of one hundred fifty percent of the assessment amount due against the health carrier or third-party administrator.
(3) The secretary shall serve notice of the civil penalty for failure to pay the assessment or amount owed on the approved payment plan 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.
(4) 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 failed to pay the annual assessment or the amount owed on the approved payment plan in the required time and manner.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
70.290.060 and chapter
70.290 RCW. WSR 14-13-101, § 246-120-040, filed 6/17/14, effective 7/18/14.]