(a) The department’s authorization to insure health facility construction, improvement, and expansion loans under this chapter shall be limited to a total of not more than three billion dollars ($3,000,000,000).
(b) Notwithstanding the limitation in subdivision (a), the department may exceed the specific dollar limitation in either of the following instances:
(1) Refinancing a preexisting loan, if the refinancing results in savings to the health facility and increases the probability that a loan can be repaid.
(2) The need for financing results from earthquakes or other natural disasters.