The Department is authorized to establish a registry of billing agents, clearinghouses, and/or alternate payees that submit claims on behalf of providers and to charge a fee to recover the costs of maintaining the registry in accordance with 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(79) and implementing regulations. All billing agents, clearinghouses, or alternate payees shall register with the Department before submitting claims on behalf of providers or within six months of enactment of this Chapter, whichever is later. Any billing agent, clearinghouse, or alternate payee that fails to register with the Department prior to submitting claims on behalf of providers shall be excluded from the registry for a period not to exceed one year. (2011-399, s. 1.)