(1) The authority may, at the director's discretion, secure the repayment of any outstanding overpayment, plus interest, if any, through the filing of a lien against the vendor's real property, or by requiring the posting of a bond, assignment of deposit, or some other form of security acceptable to the authority, or by doing both.
(a) Any lien is effective from the date of filing for record with the county auditor of the county in which the property is located and the lien claim has preference over the claims of all unsecured creditors.
(b) The authority shall review and determine the acceptability of all other forms of security.
(c) Any bond must be issued by a company licensed as a surety in the state of Washington.
(d) This subsection does not apply to nursing homes licensed under chapter
18.51 RCW or portions of hospitals licensed under chapter
70.41 RCW and operating as a nursing home, if those facilities are subject to chapter
74.46 RCW.
(2) The authority may recover any overpayment, plus interest, if any, by setoff or recoupment against subsequent payments to the vendor.