Michael Bass, Esq, and Richard Thomas, Esq. recently celebrated their two-year anniversary with Abrams Fensterman, LLP, as partners in the Health Law practice group. Before joining the firm, Mr. Bass and Mr. Thomas served at a high level within the New York State Department of Health, handling matters that touched on every area of the Department’s authority.
Pictured above, left to right: Michael Bass, Esq., Richard Thomas, Esq.
“With unparalleled experience and practical understanding of the Department’s role in regulating and overseeing every aspect of the healthcare industry, Mr. Bass and Mr. Thomas will be available to advise all Abrams Fensterman LLP’s clients that have matters before the Department of Health.”
– Patrick Formato, Executive Partner & Director of the Health Law Practice Group
Michael Bass, Esq. spent his first seven years with the Department as a prosecutor in the Bureau of Professional Medical Conduct and is one of the very few attorneys in private practice with actual experience in prosecuting physicians and physician assistants in administrative proceedings. He then assumed the role of Chief of the Bureau of Litigation, overseeing the hundreds of lawsuits and subpoena requests the Department is involved with on an annual basis. Mr. Bass then moved on to the Department’s General Counsel’s Office, where he served as Deputy General Counsel and later as Acting General Counsel, managing nearly 120 attorneys and 180 employees total during much of the first year of the COVID Pandemic.
Richard Thomas, Esq. served as the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Program Counsel. In that capacity, he provided advice and counsel to almost all programs within the Department of Health, including on matters related to licensing and regulating hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, home care, emergency medical services, environmental and clinical labs, radiologic technologists, and surrogacy programs. Mr. Thomas was also closely involved in various contract matters, including major grant and procurement initiatives.
LOCAL RESPECT, STATE-WIDE REACH
Abrams Fensterman, LLP has one of the largest health care legal practices in New York state. For further information about our health law practice, please contact our law firm today on Long Island at 516-328-2300, in Brooklyn at 718-215-5300, White Plains at 914-607-7010, Rochester at 585-218-9999 or Albany at 518-535-9477. For more information, visit our new website www.abramslaw.com.
