(a) It shall be the duty of each nursing facility subject to this article to keep and preserve such suitable books and records as may be necessary to determine the amount of privilege assessments for which it is liable under the provisions of this article. The books and records shall be kept and preserved for a period of not less than three years, and all such books and records shall be open for examination during business hours by the department or its duly authorized agents.
(b) All information secured pursuant to this article by the department shall be confidential, as prescribed by Section 40-2A-10, except that the department may provide such information to the Alabama Medicaid Agency as necessary for the proper administration of the Medicaid program, or for the department's proper administration of the privilege assessments levied by this article.
(c) The department shall from time to time, as it deems desirable, and after consultation with the Alabama Medicaid Agency, promulgate such reasonable rules and regulations as necessary to provide for the orderly and efficient administration of the privilege assessment levied by this article.