Robert J. Benvenuti III - a Lexington, United States Health Care Lawyer

Lexington Health Care Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Health Care
Litigation
Legislation and Public Policy
Contracting and Procurement
Mediation Services

Attorney Information

Overview

Robert J. Benvenuti III has been actively involved in the health care industry since 1983. His experience includes serving as a provider, administrator, compliance officer, government official and legal counsel. He has significant experience in health care fraud and abuse, compliance, false claims, government investigations, medical staff issues, internal investigations, civil liability, controlled substances abuse and diversion, and EMTALA, as well as general regulatory and operational issues facing institutional and individual providers.

In February 2004, Mr. Benvenuti was appointed Inspector General for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services where he served until January of 2007. As Inspector General Benvenuti led a staff of approximately 340 employees and was responsible for directing the operations and formulating policy for the Office. Among other things, the Office of Inspector General is charged with investigating and detecting fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid program, as well as allegations of prescription drug abuse and diversion. The OIG is also responsible for conducting complaint investigations and standard surveys involving some 3,000 health care facilities and services across the Commonwealth relative to state licensure requirements and federal certification conditions of participation on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Prior to his appointment as Inspector General, Mr. Benvenuti was an attorney with Stites & Harbison, PLLC. From 1998 to 2002 he served as the originating Corporate Compliance Officer for the UK Chandler Medical Center, where he established and directed the Medical Center's comprehensive compliance program.

Before becoming an attorney, he served in various administrative and management positions, including risk manager, for Baptist Healthcare Systems of Kentucky. Benvenuti also served for five years as a member of a volunteer rescue squad in his hometown of Sparta, New Jersey.

Mr. Benvenuti is a 1998 graduate of the UK College of Law. While in law school he was a member of the National Moot Court Team and a published author. Mr. Benvenuti also earned a Master's of Public Administration from the UK Martin School of Public Policy and Administration in 1991 and his BS degree from the University of Kentucky in 1988.

Mr. Benvenuti is a member of the Kentucky Bar Association, the American Health Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association. He serves as an adjunct professor for the UK College of Law and has published several articles on fraud and abuse in the health care industry as well as other operational and regulatory issues facing health care providers.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Robert J. Benvenuti III included in a Super Lawyers® list

Other Sources of Feedback About Robert J. Benvenuti III

Included on the 2026 Kentucky Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Kentucky Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky, 1998
  J.D.
  Honors: National Moot Court Team
  Honors: Moot Court Board
  Honors: 1L Moot Court Competition, "Best Brief"
  Honors: College of Law Honor Council's Oral Advocate
Non Legal Education
- University of Kentucky Martin School of Public Policy and Admin, 1991
  Master
  Major: Public Administration
  Minor: Health Care Administration
- University of Kentucky, 1988
  B.S., Bachelor of Science
  Major: Communication

Current Employment Position(s)

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Founding Member
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Past Positions

Central Baptist Hospital, Assistant Administrator, 1991 - 1994
Central Baptist Hospital, Litigation/Risk Manager, 1994 - 1995
Boehl Stopher & Graves, Law Clerk, 1995 - 1997
University of Kentucky, A.B. Chandler Medical Center, Legal Clerkship, Chancellor's Office, 1997 - 1998
University of Kentucky, A.B. Chandler Medical Center, Corporate Compliance Officer, 1998 - 2002
Stites & Harbison, PLLC, Attorney, 2002 - 2004
Commonwealth of Kentucky, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Inspector General, 2004 - 2007

Classes and Seminars

Legal Writing and Advocacy, University of Kentucky College of Law, 2003 - Present

Published Works

Articles

"Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Physician Heal Thyself", Physician's Practice Digest, March/April, 2001
"Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Crime and Punishment", Physician's Practice Digest, January/February, 2001
"Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Practicing Medicine in the Crosshairs", Physician's Practice Digest, November/December, 2000
"Medical/Legal Aspects of Informed Consent", Neurology Clinics, February, 1998

Bar Admissions

Kentucky, 1998

Specialties and Certifications

Certified Arbitrator, National Better Business Bureau, 1988

Other Affiliations

Kentucky Bar Association, 1998 - Present (Member)
American Health Lawyers Association, 1998 - Present (Member)
Association of Inspectors General, 2004 - 2007 (Member)
Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, 2006 - Present (Associate member)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, 2005 - Present (Member)
American Bar Association, 1998 - Present (Member)
American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics, 1993 - 1995 (Member)
American College of Healthcare Executives, 1991 - 1995 (Associate)

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Contact

Lexington, KY

120 Kentucky Avenue
Suite 220
Lexington, KY 40502

Directions

Phone: 866-587-0281

Fax: 877-747-9184

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.kessingerlaw.com

Credit Cards Accepted
Free Consultations

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Robert J. Benvenuti III - Lexington, KY