The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) overhauled the reimbursement system for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) with the intent to improve payments by ensuring therapy services were focused on meeting the needs and preferences for beneficiaries, rather than the volume of services provided. The Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) went into effect on 10/1/19. Because the payment model employs a new methodology for reimbursement, there are multiple concerns that some SNFs may inappropriately manipulate therapy services to increase profits, such as by mandating therapists to maximize the use of group and concurrent therapy regardless of the resident’s needs. The doctoral program addresses PDPM from a regulatory oversight perspective. Surveyors will receive updated investigatory pathways and training regarding how to investigate therapy services to address the impact PDPM may be having on the provision of therapy, functional performance, and falls. Surveyors will have the knowledge and skills to ensure SNF beneficiaries across the nation receive quality, individualized rehabilitation services to satisfy the intent behind PDPM.

All companies are subject to some degree of regulatory oversight of their operations. Economics, finance, and government research demonstrate that operational regulatory oversight (for example, provided by the EPA or FDA) imposes financial and operating burdens on regulated firms. My study examines how auditors respond to their clients’ operational regulatory oversight with additional audit costs, as reflected in audit fees. I focus on operational regulatory oversight from six federal regulatory agencies with authority to regulate companies in any industry. I find that operational regulatory oversight intensity, measured by number of regulators, occurrences of regulator-specific disclosures, and regulatory fragmentation, is positively associated with audit fees. Cross-sectional tests show that operational oversight from “continuous” regulators (i.e., regulators that maintain routine oversight) significantly weakens the positive association between operational regulatory oversight and audit fees. Further analyses provide no evidence that the higher audit fees are accompanied by changes in auditor effort. Lastly, my results are robust to an audit fee change model and an alternative measure of regulatory fragmentation. / Business Administration/Accounting

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to get an increased insight on a governmental regulator's view on independence in a Swedish context, with the aim to contribute to the research regarding auditor independence. Design/methodology/approach – The research is in the form of a quantitative study examining the Swedish Supervisory Board of Public Accountant’s disciplinary rulings from the years 2004-2010. Findings – The study concludes that the SSBPA view independence in fact as one, if not the most, important attribute for an auditor, while independence in appearance is on the other side of the spectrum, being one of the least vital. Originality/Value – The findings of this paper show that the SSBPA’s view on auditor independence is in stark contrast to the propositions made by the European Commission and SOX, as they are more focused on mitigating issues related to independence in appearance. Keywords – Auditor independence; Independence in Appearance; Independence in Fact; Practical Definition; Quality affecting Issues; Non-Quality affecting Issues; Regulatory Oversight; Disciplinary RulingsPaper Type – Research paper

Submitted by Paulo Junior (paulo.jr@fgv.br) on 2011-04-27T19:06:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Carina C. Coelho.pdf: 619431 bytes, checksum: 399cdc20dd245e1b67336c5680daaa97 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Paulo Junior(paulo.jr@fgv.br) on 2011-04-27T19:07:15Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Carina C. Coelho.pdf: 619431 bytes, checksum: 399cdc20dd245e1b67336c5680daaa97 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-03T12:52:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Carina C. Coelho.pdf: 619431 bytes, checksum: 399cdc20dd245e1b67336c5680daaa97 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-11 / This study aimed to analyse the potencial and obstacles of the adoption of the Regulatory Impact Analysis and the oversight body in the Brazilian context. For this, we carried out a field research with representatives of institutions involved with AIR, such as regulatory agencies and Civil House, as well as experts with publications on the top. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted around questions compiled from the previously explored in the theoretical knowledge of the work. It was concluded that from an environment of concern for regulatory quality in Brazil, both the central administration and regulatory bodies investigated have undertaken efforts to achieve a more effective regulatory system. However, there is a long way to go and many hurdles to overcome. Concerning the RIA and the oversight body, the strength, technical expertise, institutional design are some of the obstacles that must be overcome to reach the Brazil actually an improvement of regulatory quality. / Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar a potencialidade e obstáculos da adoção da Análise de Impacto Regulatório e do órgão supervisor no contexto brasileiro. Para isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa de campo com representantes de instituições envolvidas com a AIR, com as agências reguladoras e a Casa Civil da Presidência da República, além de especialistas com publicações relativas ao tema. Foram realizadas assim, doze entrevistas semi-estruturadas em torno de perguntas previamente elaboradas a partir dos conhecimentos explorados no referencial teórico do trabalho. Concluiu-se que a partir de um ambiente de preocupação com a qualidade regulatória no Brasil, tanto a esfera mais central da administração – a Casa Civil como os entes reguladores investigados, têm empreendido esforços em prol de um sistema regulatório mais eficaz. Entretanto, há um longo caminho a ser percorrido e diversos obstáculos a serem ultrapassados. Com relação à AIR e ao órgão de supervisão, a resistência, a especialização técnica, o desenho institucional são alguns desses percalços que deverão ser transpostos a fim de que o Brasil alcance de fato uma melhoria da qualidade regulatória

The thesis deals with the question about necessary conditions to achieve the objective of a high level of consumer protection in the context of the ongoing internal electricity market taking into account the grid-bound electricity supply, which is characterized by the natural monopoly of regulated networks as well as by competition for the homogeneous product electricity. It evaluates the relationship between effective competition and energy sector-specific consumer protection taking into account the energy-specific regulatory law and examines in detail the regulations of the Directive 2009/72/EC concerning consumer protection under the perspective of enabling the responsible and informed consumer to operate as a self-determined market participant and so shape the market actively towards its completion. After art. 114 TFEU as the existing central norm concerning the alignment of the internal energy market is distinguished from other possible competence rules like the new energy sector-specific competence title of art. 194 TFEU the requirements developed by the ECJ case law concerning art. 114 TFEU from the point of view of the energy sector-specific consumer protection are presented. The thesis clarifies both to what extent in Directive 2009/72/EC codified consumer rights are suitable to achieve...