The Florida-based law firm Broad and Cassel is pleased to announce that veteran health law attorney Mike Bittman joins Broad and Cassel’s nationally-recognized Health Law Practice Group. With nearly three decades of experience, the board-certified health law attorney brings a reputation for integrity, depth and expertise to an already strong practice, which includes more board-certified attorneys than any other firm in the State of Florida. Based in Orlando, Bittman also adds a senior presence in the central part of the state, enhancing the firm’s statewide presence.
“The addition of Mike Bittman to our already strong health care team is in line with our statewide goal to deepen our presence in the Central Florida area,” said Gabriel Imperato, managing partner of the Fort Lauderdale office and regulatory health law expert. “He is a leading health law practitioner in Florida, who will boost even further our Firm’s capabilities and growth.”
Bittman joins the firm from the Orlando office of Gray Robinson, where he led the health law practice. He has extensive experience representing clients in the health care industry, including hospitals, nursing homes, managed care companies, pharmacies, medical equipment suppliers, home health agencies and physicians.
“With the upheavals in the health care industry resulting from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the transition of the Florida Medicaid program to managed care, the industry is experiencing consolidation, increased competition, reimbursement decreases, endless regulatory pronouncements, heightened enforcement, and new complexities,” Bittman said. “Health care clients need lawyers who understand these developments and can offer new solutions and strategies. Broad and Cassel, more than any other Florida firm, has lawyers who can help clients achieve their goals during this period of unprecedented change.”
“Our team of health care lawyers has been focused heavily these past few years on helping physician groups, and now ACOs, navigate our rapidly changing health care system,” said Broad and Cassel Health Law Chairman Mike Segal. “The addition of an experienced senior lawyer, like Bittman, is a perfect complement to our practice. We look forward to growing our Central Florida presence.”
Bittman has been lead trial counsel in a number of federal, state and administrative health law cases and represents clients in health care fraud investigations, qui tam or whistleblower cases, contract disputes, health insurance claims, malpractice and medical staff disputes. He has also handled fraud and reimbursement cases involving millions of dollars in Medicare and Medicaid funds.
In addition to his litigation experience, Mr. Bittman serves as outside general counsel for hospitals and other health care entities, represents parties in health care transactions, including the drafting of purchase and sale contracts, leases, management agreements, letters of intent and other documents.
Bittman currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Academy of Healthcare Attorneys. He is a past chair of the Florida Bar Health Law Section. Bittman is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and received his juris doctor from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C.
