(a) No administrator shall deny payment to any pharmacy for covered pharmaceutical services or prescription drug products rendered as a result of the misuse, fraudulent or illegal use of an identification card unless such identification card had expired, been noticeably altered, or the pharmacy was notified of the cancellation of such card. In lieu of notifying pharmacies which have a common ownership, the administrator may notify a party designated by the pharmacy to receive such notice, in which case, notification shall not become effective until 5 calendar days after the designee receives notification.
     (b) No program administrator may withhold any payment to any pharmacy for covered pharmaceutical services or prescription drug products beyond the time period specified in the payment schedule provisions of the agreement, except for individual claims for payment which have been returned to the pharmacy as incomplete or illegible. Such returned claims shall be paid if resubmitted by the pharmacy to the program administrator with the appropriate corrections made.