Reinhart's Lightfoot Appointed to Special Committee on Legal Interventions for Persons with Alzheimer's and Related Dementias

MADISON – The State of Wisconsin Joint Legislative Council has appointed Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. (Reinhart) Health Care shareholder Robert J. Lightfoot II to serve as a Public Member of the Special Committee on Legal Interventions for Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. The Special Committee is directed to review and develop legislation to clarify the statutes regarding guardianship, protective placement, involuntary commitment and involuntary treatment as they apply to vulnerable adults with a dementia diagnosis who may or may not have a co-occurring psychiatric diagnosis. The 16-person Special Committee includes two state senators, two state representatives and 12 public members.

"I am honored by this appointment," states Lightfoot. "I look forward to working with the other committee members and contributing to new legislation in this important area."

Based in Reinhart's Madison office, Lightfoot represents nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the areas of survey and certification, licensure, regulatory compliance, risk management, HIPAA compliance, contracts, and operational and transactional matters. He represents health care clients on numerous matters before State and Federal agencies, including the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Lightfoot also represents health care and other licensed professionals in license matters before the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Lightfoot is a frequent speaker and writer on health care facility regulation, operations and issues affecting health care professionals, and is a contributor to the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association Newsletter. He is a board member and past president of the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association and a member of the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL) Advisory Council. Lightfoot is also a licensed Registered Nurse and brings to his law practice nearly a decade of clinical nursing experience.

Lightfoot earned his J.D. from Hamline University School of Law and his B.S. from Middle Tennessee State University.