(1) The department may adjust component rates for errors or omissions made in establishing component rates and determine amounts either overpaid to the contractor or underpaid by the department.
(2) A contractor may request the department to adjust its component rates because of:
(a) An error or omission the contractor made in completing a cost report; or
(b) An alleged error or omission made by the department in determining one or more of the contractor's component rates.
(3) A request for a rate adjustment made on incorrect cost reporting must be accompanied by the amended cost report pages prepared in accordance with the department's written instructions and by a written explanation of the error or omission and the necessity for the amended cost report pages and the rate adjustment.
(4) The department shall review a contractor's request for a rate adjustment because of an alleged error or omission, even if the time period has expired in which the contractor must appeal the rate when initially issued, pursuant to rules adopted by the department under *RCW
74.46.780. If the request is received after this time period, the department has the authority to correct the rate if it agrees an error or omission was committed. However, if the request is denied, the contractor shall not be entitled to any appeals or exception review procedure that the department may adopt under *RCW
74.46.780.
(5) The department shall notify the contractor of the amount of the overpayment to be recovered or additional payment to be made to the contractor reflecting a rate adjustment to correct an error or omission. The recovery from the contractor of the overpayment or the additional payment to the contractor shall be governed by the reconciliation, settlement, security, and recovery processes set forth in this chapter and by rules adopted by the department in accordance with this chapter.
(6) Component rate adjustments approved in accordance with this section are subject to the provisions of RCW
74.46.421.