(

a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), if any amount is due and payable and unpaid as the result of an overpayment to a provider of health care services, durable medical equipment, or incontinence supplies identified through an audit or examination conducted by or on behalf of the director, and the findings of the audit or examination are completed and no appeal is taken or the director has issued a final decision on the appeal pursuant to

Section 14171, and days have elapsed from the completion of that audit or examination or issuance of that final decision on appeal, the director may, not later than three years after the payment became due and owing, file in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of Sacramento County, and with the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the provider has its principal place of business, a certificate containing the following:

(1) Interest, as prescribed by

Section 14171.

(2) A statement that the director has complied with this

article prior to the filing of the certificate.

(3) A request that judgment be entered against the provider in the amount set forth in the certificate. The clerk immediately upon the filing of the certificate shall enter a judgment for the State of California against the provider in the amount set forth in the certificate. The judgment may be filed by the clerk in a looseleaf book entitled “Health Care Overpayment Recovery Judgments.” (

b) If the provider seeks judicial review of the final decision of the director pursuant to subdivision (

k) of

Section and notice of that action is properly served on the director within days of the issuance of the final decision of the director, the director shall not file any certificate as provided in subdivision (a). If the provider does not seek judicial review of the final decision of the director pursuant to subdivision (

k) of

Section and does not properly serve notice within days from the date of the final decision of the director, the director may file the certificate provided in subdivision (a). If the provider seeks judicial review of the final decision of the director more than days from the date of the decision in accordance with subdivision (

k) of

Section 14171, the director shall within days after receiving notice of that action release any lien imposed pursuant to this

article and any judgment entered is for all purposes null and void.