Dykema Member Re-appointed To Two Positions With The American Health Lawyers Association

Bloomfield Hills

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announces that Joanne R. Lax, Member of the firm’s Health Care practice group, has been re-appointed as a Vice Chair of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA) Long-Term Care, Senior Housing, In-Home Care and Rehabilitation Practice Group for the 2009-2010 year. The Long Term Care, Senior Housing, In-Home Care and Rehabilitation Practice Group provides an educational and networking forum for attorneys who represent providers across the entire spectrum of long term care services, including skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, senior housing, home health, hospice, and long term care pharmacy. The LTC-SIR Practice Group conducts in-person educational seminars and teleconferences, publishes member alerts, periodicals and reference materials on new developments and trends, and hosts a list-serve and blogs for member discussion of issues, among other functions.

Ms. Lax was also re-appointed to the AHLA Diversity Council for the same period. In principle and in practice, the American Health Lawyers Association values and seeks diverse and inclusive participation within the Association regardless of gender, race, creed, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.

Joanne represents health care providers (particularly hospitals and long-term care facilities) regarding state and federal regulatory compliance, administrative regulatory litigation, patient rights, biomedical ethics, mental health treatment delivery, privacy, risk management, and contract negotiation. In addition to the American Health Lawyers Association, Joanne is the Chair-elect of the Health Care Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (where she is a former member of the Core Legal Committee), and the Michigan Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. She is a regular speaker for these organizations as well as the American Hospital Association, American Optometric Association, Michigan Department of Community Health – Office of Recipient Rights, Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Michigan Alliance of Healthcare Access Professionals, and the Michigan Health Information Management Association.

A member of Dykema’s Bloomfield Hills office with thirty years of legal experience, Joanne obtained her A.B. from the University of Michigan, with high distinction, Phi Beta Kappa, and her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif.