Benjamin C. Runkle

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.

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

Publications

• Melissa Soliz & Benjamin Runkle, ARIZONA – Response to Opioid Crisis and Opioid Prescribing Requirements, American Health Lawyers Association 50-State Survey (Nov. 6, 2019)

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