(a) The Department of Public Health is designated as the state agency to (1) administer a program of services for children with physical disabilities or who are suffering from conditions which lead to such disabilities or suffering from cardiac defect or damage, and (2) receive and administer federal funds which may become available for such services. The Commissioner of Public Health is authorized to extend and improve, as far as practicable, such services for locating such children and for providing medical, surgical, corrective and other services and care, and facilities for diagnosis, clinical services, hospitalization and aftercare for such children. The Commissioner of Public Health shall have final administrative responsibility for all activities on behalf of such children as are provided for by this section and shall have charge of the disbursement of all funds to be used for such purposes, whether by state or federal grant or appropriation, and said commissioner is authorized, in addition to the powers conferred herein, to cooperate with the federal government or any authority thereunder respecting the exercise of powers herein granted.

(b) Ninety per cent of clean claims for payments to persons furnishing services hereunder shall be made no later than thirty days from receipt of the request for payment and ninety-nine per cent shall be made within ninety days of such receipt. For the purposes of this section “clean claim” means a claim which can be processed without obtaining additional substantiation from the person furnishing such services or other persons entitled to receive payment. A claim submitted by any such person who is under investigation for fraud or abuse shall not be considered a clean claim.