(a) On or before the twentieth of each month, beginning October 1991, each nursing facility subject to this article shall file with the department a statement under penalty of perjury on forms prescribed by the department, showing the total number of beds as of the last day of the previous month, the privilege assessment due under this article, and such other reasonable and necessary information as the department, after consultation with the Alabama Medicaid Agency and adoption of appropriate rules and regulations, may require for the proper enforcement of the provisions of this article. At the time of filing such statement the nursing facility shall pay to the department the amount of privilege assessments shown to be due.

(b) The annual privilege assessments levied by this article shall be prorated on a month by month basis for any beds added to or subtracted from the nursing facility during the fiscal year except that, for any nursing facility which adds licensed beds after July 1, 1991, and has a monthly total occupancy rate of less than 85 percent according to Medicaid program methodology, the amount due for each such month shall be determined by prorating the annual privilege assessments due per bed on a daily basis and multiplying the amount times the total number of patient days furnished in such month by the facility. This exception shall cease as of the first month that the occupancy rate of the nursing facility equals or exceeds 85 percent.

(c) Any nursing facility that fails to pay the privilege assessments levied by this article within the time required by this article shall pay, in addition to the privilege assessments, a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of privilege assessments due, together with interest thereon at the rate prescribed by Section 40-1-44, such penalty and interest to be assessed and collected as part of the privilege assessments. Provided, however, the department, if a good and sufficient reason is shown, may waive or remit the penalty of 10 percent or a portion thereof. If payment is not received by the last day of the month, the department shall notify the Alabama Medicaid Agency, which shall withhold the payment, interest and penalty owed from any reimbursement due to the nursing facility under the Medicaid program. The privilege assessment levied by this article shall constitute a debt due the State of Alabama and may be collected by civil action in addition to the methods provided in this article. The department is empowered to assess, file tax liens, and collect the privilege assessments levied by this article, as prescribed in this title.