Tennessee Code Title 68. Health, Safety and Environmental Protection § 68-11-816

(a) Five (5) working days after the nursing home's actual receipt of either the health facilities commission's detailed statement of the type B or type C penalty required by § 68-11-814, or the health facilities commission executive director's order suspending admissions to the nursing home and assessing a type A penalty, the nursing home shall either pay the penalty assessed or file with the administrative procedures division of the secretary of state and with the health facilities commission an answer, demanding a contested case hearing.

(b) Should the nursing home fail to answer or to demand a hearing within five (5) working days of its actual receipt of the health facilities commission's notice, it shall be deemed to have waived its right to a hearing, to have admitted the allegations of the assessment, and the civil penalty assessed shall then be due and payable.