Below are industry news and perspectives on hot topics including: disputes, forensic accounting, global investigations & compliance, technology & discovery services, construction, energy, financial services, government and healthcare.
News Listing
Legal
May 08
Navigant announced today the enhancement of its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance and Investigations offering with the addition of Alba Avila Quintana and Patrick J. McArdle who join the firm as Directors in New York.
Energy
May 02
Navigant announced today that its Solar Services Program has released Photovoltaic Manufacturer Shipments, Capacity & Competitive Analysis 2011/2012.
Financial Services
April 02
Navigant announced today that John F. Rao has joined the firm as Managing Director and head of the U.S. operations for its global Financial Services advisory practice.
Financial Services
March 20
Brings Global Economic Perspective on the Issues to the Debate
Navigant and OMFIF (Official Monetary and Financial Institution Forum) will jointly present a debate at the Reform Club in London titled, “The ECB and its Balance Sheet: Valuation and Risk Management”. Cornelia Meyer, Chairman and CEO of MRL Corporation, will participate in the panel debate which will explore risk and valuation implications surrounding the on and off-balance sheet position of the European Central Bank during a difficult time for Economic Monetary Union.
Legal
March 14
To Further Boost Industry-Leading eDiscovery Capabilities
Navigant announced it has acquired all rights to the innovative Caselawg eDiscovery workflow and tracking software from Legal Science, a company founded by Harrison Flakker. Flakker joins Navigant’s Washington, DC office as Director in the Technology Solutions practice.
Insurance
March 12
PACEweb® integrates more data and advanced reporting and analytical tools to assist in complex mass tort claims, particularly secondary exposure asbestos claims
PACE Claims Services LLC (PACE), a subsidiary of Navigant, and a recognized leader in mass tort claims administration, announced the launch of an enhanced Claims Management System (CMS) within its web portal.
Energy
March 08
Awards highlight the efforts of leading California organizations paving the way towards the state’s sustainable future.
The California Sustainability Alliance, a market transformation program managed by Navigant, is proud to announce recipients of the 2011 Sustainability Showcase Awards.
Legal
February 23
Simplifies the FATCA due diligence procedures for global financial institutions
Navigant announced the launch of FATCA FINDSM, an innovative and proprietary software solution capable of serving as the foundation of an organization’s Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”) compliance.
February 23
Navigant announced the appointment of current President and Chief Operating Officer Julie M. Howard to Chief Executive Officer, effective March 1, 2012. Howard succeeds current CEO William M. Goodyear, who will remain with the Company as Executive Chairman of the Board.
Energy
February 01
Navigant announced the launch of the Navigant Utility Forum, a panel of senior executives from electric and gas utilities in both regulated and non-regulated markets, focused on exploring the future of utility operations and organization within the context of the convergence of customer operations, integrated demand-side management, marketing and smart grid deployment.
Energy
January 24
Navigant announced that Larry Grimm, P.E. has joined the Energy Practice as an Associate Director in the Austin, Texas office.
Financial Services
January 19
Navigant announced that Joseph K. Morant has joined the Financial Services practice as a Director in the Boston office.
Energy
January 18
Navigant announced today that Dr. Bruce W. Perlstein and Dr. Ken Seiden have joined the firm’s Energy Practice as Directors. The addition of high-profile experts such as Dr. Perlstein and Dr. Seiden underscores the firm’s continued commitment to providing best-in-class analytics in the rapidly growing areas of energy efficiency, demand response, and innovative pricing.
Construction
January 11
Becker’s Hospital Review
Fred Campobasso discusses how healthcare reform is driving process improvement and capital spends for healthcare facilities.
December 21
Senior Hires Bring Important Expertise in Traditional and Specialized Data Analytics
Navigant announced that it has expanded its Technology Solutions practice in Chicago with the addition of Managing Director, Jim Vint, and Directors, Kevin Blake and Kevin Byrne. The addition of these senior leaders compliments Navigant’s full service end‐to‐end e‐Discovery services and adds specialized expertise to its data analytics team.
Healthcare
December 19
Before finalizing a physician practice purchase, hospitals must address key strategic, financial, operational, legal, and regulatory ramifications.
Construction
December 15
Frequent budget overruns, schedule changes and safety issues leave construction firms at high financial risk, says McGraw-Hill Construction Report
Navigant partnered with Pepper Hamilton to sponsor McGraw Hill study on mitigation of construction risk.
December 08
Navigant announced today its standing as one of the 190 companies receiving a perfect 100 rating on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI).
Healthcare
November 30
Summary: Physician - hospital practice integration can enhance mutual performance, competitive position and financial stability, but only with proper planning and development.
Healthcare
November 29
Making hospital-physician alignment work requires a cultural shift among participants from an independent to an institutional perspective.
Healthcare
November 28
Adding commercial ACO incentives to the final Medicare ACO rule should make the ACO model more attractive to healthcare providers.
Legal
November 23
Because all Ponzi schemes similarly appear legitimate while promising extraordinary returns, heightened awareness by investors is essential to avoid victimization.
Healthcare
November 22
The healthcare governance objectives of effectiveness and efficiency have different meanings when applied to independent practices and integrated practice organizations.
November 21
Broker-dealers with master/sub-account structures need information about the underlying sub-account traders to avoid significant legal and reputational risk.
Legal
November 18
When a company’s business materially changes, interim Anti-Money Laundering compliance testing can catch risks before problems develop.
November 17
Because the companies using ESPs, and not the ESP itself, are most at risk from data security breaches, proactive and collaborative defensive steps are essential.
November 16
After pleading guilty and receiving a record fine for FCPA violations, Siemens began a compliance effort that can be a model for other multinational companies.
Energy
November 15
Navigant announced that Karin Corfee has joined Navigant’s Energy Practice as a Managing Director in the San Francisco office.
November 14
Forensic accountants can both assist with internal investigation of fraud, and provide findings that can mitigate future fraud risk.
November 11
Companies that use social media sites for employment- or litigation-related screening must not run afoul of evolving statutory and common law restrictions.
Energy
November 10
Slower demand plus competition from over-capacity within many key areas are the new market realities for wind energy component manufacturers.
Legal
November 09
Six guiding principles for UK Bribery Act compliance emphasize the importance of constant assessment and communication of adequate anti-bribery procedures
Legal
November 08
Companies operating globally can effectively assess compliance risks by leveraging a technology driven approach.
Energy
November 07
Report highlights the changes, trends, policies and challenges observed in the international wind power supply chain
BTM Consult, a premier forecaster and data source for the international wind industry and part of Navigant’s global Energy practice, announced that it has released International Wind Energy Development – Supply Chain Assessment 2012-2015.
Healthcare
November 04
Navigant announced its assessment of the final ACO Rule published on October 20, 2011, by the Department of Health and Human Services. Accountable care organizations (ACOs), a centerpiece of health reform legislation, are intended to deliver high-quality, cost-efficient health services by integrating treatment among providers.
Energy
November 03
The solar power industry has too much capacity and too low prices, with constrained profitability that does not support feed-in tariff incentives.
Legal
November 02
Navigant’s proprietary risk scoring methodology and on-boarding portal, DecisionPointSM, serves as the foundation of a multinational company’s overall third party anti-corruption compliance program.
Healthcare
November 01
Navigant and 3M team up to support provider participation in CMS bundled payment initiative.
Energy
November 01
Without coordinated interoperability standards among all domains in the electric system, synergies from the smart grid will be difficult or impossible to achieve.
October 31
It has been rare for board members to face securities law liability arising from company disclosure, but the SEC is signaling change.
Energy
October 28
Clearly the expanded production of shale gas has been the game-changer, and the supply and pricing picture would be much different without it.
Healthcare
October 27
Freestanding independent hospitals may find the challenge of healthcare reform compliance nearly impossible without focused survival strategies.
Energy
October 26
We as a country are producing more natural gas than we are using, and the resource base supporting that production is vast.
Healthcare
October 25
Balancing margins across inpatient and outpatient services is challenging because these services have much different profitability variables.
Energy
October 24
CPV systems will produce significantly more energy than traditional PV systems, and work is underway to overcome their cost and operational challenges.
Healthcare
October 21
The ACO final rules for Medicare Accountable Care Organizations relax quality metrics, enhance financial incentives and clarify beneficiary assignment.
Healthcare
October 21
Product standardization can be successfully implemented through a disciplined value analysis process for selecting high-quality, cost-effective products.
Healthcare
October 20
A new physician compensation model will require demonstration of patient-focused outcomes that will become mandatory in the future.
Information Technology
October 19
Although European Union regulations restrict disclosure of personal data in U.S. litigation discovery, there are ways to reconcile the conflicting legal requirements.
Financial Services
October 18
To manage effectively in the post-ICB environment, banks must fully understand how different operational units contribute to overall profitability.
October 17
U.S. courts have found that foreign-based litigants generally must comply with eDiscovery requirements under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
October 14
Private sector data security is extensively regulated but government agency data lacks such blanket regulation and needs a proactive data security approach.
October 13
Navigant and Piedmont Healthcare today announced a strategic relationship that will leverage their combined resources and professional expertise to develop a model for becoming a high-performing healthcare organization in a post-reform world.
Legal
October 13
Proposed FASB standards on litigation lost contingency disclosure to auditors could jeopardize the disclosing companies’ attorney-client privilege.
Construction
October 12
The variation in claims decisions by Boards of Contract Appeals and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on the basis of causation were notable and unexpected.
October 11
Thorough due diligence is essential for merger and acquisition (M&A) deals.
Construction
October 10
Surprising Results of Construction Forum Study Show that Judges are Inconsistent in Termination & Change Claims
October 10
Tyco International’s FCPA compliance program reflects emphasis on “vetting” third-party business partners to prevent violations
Healthcare
October 07
As healthcare reform unfolds, providers and payers are both working to devise a payment plan for maintaining their bottom lines.
Financial Services
October 06
Despite glimmers of improvement in the first half of 2011, the prospects for commercial real estate market recovery have become grim.
Healthcare
October 05
Navigant announced that it has acquired Paragon Health, a leading national physician practice management and consulting firm.
Healthcare
October 05
Following recent revelations that some claims from independent physical therapists were unreasonable, medically unnecessary or improperly documented, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has turned its focus to outpatient therapy services in 2011.
Healthcare
October 04
The PPACA is intended to create a new starting point for providing healthcare services, by emphasizing lower costs, increased access and improved quality.
Healthcare
October 03
Providers and payers alike are preparing for the major changes to payments and processes that will come under healthcare reform.
Healthcare
September 30
Combined with the PPACA, the economy’s ongoing weakness and aging population demographics make change in healthcare delivery systems inevitable.
Healthcare
September 29
There is much uncertainty about the future of reimbursement rates for providers, which complicates things for provider financial executives as they try to design budgets that meet healthcare reform's goals of improving quality of care while making it more affordable and accessible.
Construction
September 28
The Eichleay Formula was created as an estimating tool, not an accounting method, but it is a useful tool in determining a fair allocation in delay cost analysis.
September 27
Analysis of vendor files using information technology can isolate third-party business partners that require heightened FCPA compliance scrutiny.
Construction
September 26
The choice among numerous methods of forensic schedule analysis for analyzing construction delay depends on contract terms, available documentation and applicable law.
Healthcare
September 23
Control of potentially avoidable complication costs requires healthcare provider collaboration, much different from today’s fee- and production-driven approach.
September 22
Rather than focus on FCPA behavioral risk factors by country and region, companies should assess the internal pressures that negatively impact compliant behaviors.
Financial Services
September 21
While retail banks have outsourced some operations, new entrants are outflanking incumbent players by leveraging third parties for speed to market with reduced capital outlay.
Construction
September 20
The AACE’s Recommended Practice – Forensic Schedule Analysis minimizes procedural subjectivity in analyzing construction schedule delays.
Healthcare
September 19
Healthcare reform will drastically change, and payers and providers will need to work together in order to survive the transition, according to Navigant’s Michael Nugent.
Healthcare
September 16
One of the key aspects of healthcare reform in the United States is changing how providers file claims and receive payment.
Energy
September 15
According to Navigant experts, cost allocation of transmission investments are expected to be significant in both the near- and long-term.
Healthcare
September 14
Healthcare providers are seeing an increase in outpatient therapy denials, which can hurt facilities and practices that are already under pressure and facing reduced revenues.
Energy
September 13
Federal incentives such as the Section 1603 cash grant program have spurred renewable energy technologies, including wind projects
September 13
Provides global corporations with a streamlined approach for the analysis and remediation of third party and intermediary corruption risk
Navigant announced today the launch of DecisionPoint, the latest enhancement to its existing suite of third party due diligence and compliance solutions.
Energy
September 12
While a shortage of natural gas in Alaska seems highly unlikely to most people, it is a regular concern for the workers and residents in South-central Alaska.
Energy
September 09
In an interview with Dow Jones, Navigant’s Rick Smead explained that major gas users near the Gulf coast's power plants, chemical manufacturing plants and refineries are all affected by major storms—not just those producing gas offshore.
Energy
September 08
At Navigant’s Executive Breakfast Briefing at the APPA Annual Conference, Navigant experts addressed the challenges for public power companies including implementing changes both internally and externally.
Healthcare
September 07
In the future, when providers will increasingly be paid for the value of the outcomes they produce, an evolution to collaborative clinical enterprises is essential.
September 07
Navigant announced that Francis E. Scheuerell, Jr. has joined Navigant’s Forensic Accounting team as a Managing Director in the New York office. Scheuerell will assist public and privately held entities with technical accounting, forensic accounting and financial reporting matters.
Energy
September 07
Navigant announced the recipients of the Generation Knowledge Service Plant Operational Excellence Awards. The awards, based on data available to Navigant through its proprietary data base, represent coal‐fired plants that have best demonstrated excellence in cost and operational management over the most recent five year period (2006‐2010).
Healthcare
September 06
Qualified non-physician providers who share the work of an in-patient hospital visit with a physician are reimbursed by Medicare at the physician rate.
Energy
September 05
At Navigant’s Executive Breakfast Briefing at the APPA Annual Conference, Navigant’s energy experts highlighted some of the steps utilities can take with regards to resource planning and procurement amid an increasingly complicated set of potential laws and regulations.
September 02
A new authorization law could sharply curtail or eliminate the rights of government contractors to their IP stemming from federally funded R&D.
Energy
September 01
Navigant discussed some of the major issues affecting the energy industry at its June APPA Executive Breakfast Briefing, including smart grid deployment across the value chain.
Healthcare
August 31
The PCMH is an interactive provider-patient-payer approach that pursues targeted healthcare outcomes to justify value-based reimbursement.
Energy
August 30
Despite coal's historic dominance in the electricity generation market, the rise of natural gas is threatening coal’s position.
Healthcare
August 29
Modern Healthcare ranks Navigant fifth in its list of Top 20 Healthcare Management Consulting Firms.
Government
August 29
The U.S. spends $145 billion on research and development every year—more than the gross domestic products of approximately three-quarters of the world's countries. In order to retain this position as a global leader and innovator, the U.S. should be working to pull more from its investment.
Healthcare
August 25
In the past 20 years, the number of metropolitan service areas (MSAs) that have more than three healthcare systems has declined sharply as a result of healthcare reform, declining revenues and changing demographics.
Healthcare
August 24
The U.S. healthcare industry is going through a major transformation, with pressure on hospitals’ bottom lines and changing demographics affecting the size and structure of many facilities.
Legal
August 23
Periodic review and improvement of internal compliance programs can help mitigate enforcement penalties if violations do occur.
August 22
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board is signaling that audit firms may face major oversight procedural changes following the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
August 19
New Dodd-Frank Act monetary incentives encourage whistleblowers to report securities violations directly to the SEC, bypassing internal company reporting.
Construction
August 18
Public-Private Partnerships between private companies or investors and public agencies can create needed infrastructure improvements without tax increases
August 17
Federal contractors need a structured and objective management approach in responding to government audits of their business systems.