Benjamin Runkle

Practice Areas

Healthcare; Government Relations & Administrative Law; Commercial Litigation & Alternative Dispute Resolution

Publications

* Insider’s Guide to AHCCCS OIG, Arizona Association of Health Care Lawyers, Phoenix, AZ, October 8, 2014

Industry Sector Expertise

Benjamin Runkle’s practice focuses on the representation of health care providers and organizations in a variety of matters. Prior to joining the legal profession, Ben worked as a firefighter/paramedic and police officer. His experience includes the following:

Representation of behavioral health providers, physicians, dentists, and other healthcare professionals in government investigations and enforcement actions;

* Representation of physicians and dentists in administrative and licensing proceedings;

* Management of administrative appeals including provider-payor disputes, imposition of civil penalties and assessments, overpayment and recoupment matters, and service authorization denials;

* Representation of clients throughout all phases of criminal prosecution and appeal;

* As an Assistant Attorney General, prosecuted fraud and represented the Department of Economic Security in litigation and policy development;

* Advised the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, on litigation strategy, rule-making, provider registration, policy development, and compliance matters investigated by the Office of the Inspector General; and Representation of clients with respect to investigations by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights.

Work Highlights

Professional & Community Involvement

* Recognized by Best Lawyers in America for work in Health Care Law

* Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Board of Directors, Since 2018

* Teen Lifeline, Board of Directors, 2017-2021

* Study Group to Amend Rules of Procedure for Judicial Review of Administrative Decisions, State Bar of Arizona, 2016-2017

* Lorna Lockwood Inn of Court

* Arizona Wellbeing Commons – Public Health Law, Policy and Equity Division, Since 2017

* American Health Lawyers Association, Since 2017

* American Association of Health and Human Services Attorneys, 2014-2017

* Cultural Heritage Behavioral Health Leadership Award, A.S.U. Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy, 2017

* Police Rookie of the Year, Indianapolis Police Department, 2001

Experience

Speaking Engagements:

* Introduction to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System: AHCCCS 101, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, October 28, 2020

* Health Insurance Reform and the Law: Arizona Medicaid – AHCCCS, Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Phoenix, AZ, March 24, 2020

* Basics of Arizona’s Medicaid Program, Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Phoenix, AZ, January 13, 2020

* Statistical Sampling and Overpayment Estimation: An Overview for Healthcare Lawyers, Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Phoenix, AZ, December 17, 2019.

* Federal Privacy Laws and Other Regulatory Landmines, Arizona Society of Addiction Medicine and Arizona Opioid Treatment Coalition Addiction Medicine Conference, Phoenix, AZ, November 16, 2019

* Behavioral Health Crisis?, Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys, Phoenix, AZ August 21, 2019

* Managed Care Contracting, American Association of Health and Human Services Attorneys, National Training and Education Conference, Norfolk, VA, November 15, 2016

* Blended Systems: Fee-for-Service and Managed Care, American Association of Health and Human Services Attorneys, National Training and Education Conference, Norfolk, VA, November 15, 2016

*Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Billing Arizona’s Medicaid System, Arizona Association of Health Care Lawyers, Phoenix, AZ, July 19, 2016

Education

Awards