(a) The Alabama Medicaid Agency shall use the revenues from the privilege assessment in furtherance of the purposes of this article, provided that any uses shall be limited to those for which federal financial participation under Title XIX of the Social Security Act is available.
(b) Any reimbursement due a nursing facility under the Medicaid program shall be paid in a timely fashion. If the amount payable is not in dispute and is not paid by the Alabama Medicaid Agency within 30 days of the due date, interest on the amount due shall be charged. The interest rate shall be the legal amount currently charged by the state.