Still, no answers! ABI Resources contacted the state's Department of Social Services DSS and the Community Options Un… — 2023-05-09 4567d301

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Still, no answers! ABI Resources contacted the state's Department of Social Services DSS and the Community Options Unit COU in an effort to obtain clarity on these concerns months ago. Jennifer Cavallaro, the Social Services Program Division Director for the Division of Health Services Community Options Unit; Amy Dumont, LCSW, the Social Services Program Manager; Elizabeth Orejuela, the Community Nurse Coordinator, and Michael Slitt, Staff Attorney at the Connecticut Department of Social Services, have been contacted, but as of now, a clear response has yet to be provided.Ongoing Silence on Lack of Transparency in Connecticut's Federally Funded Programs Raises Alarm As the world emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability, a concerning issue involving the rights of brain-injured individuals in Connecticut, who depend on federally funded programs for their care, remains unaddressed. Despite repeated efforts by advocacy groups and concerned citizens, the issue has been met with ongoing silence from relevant authorities for months, raising alarm and amplifying concerns. Recent reports have highlighted problems with the Approved Provider Directory and Connecticut care management referral processes of federally funded waivers. According to Marihonor Flagg, a representative from ACR Allied Community Resources, the approved provider directory is not available for public view, based on a directive from the Department of Social Services (DSS). ABI Resources, a leading advocacy organization, has voiced concern over this lack of transparency, questioning the quality and reliability of the information contained in the directory, as well as past and current Care Management referral practices of federally funded services to Medicaid agency providers. Despite ABI Resources' efforts to obtain clarity on these concerns by contacting the state's Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Community Options Unit (COU), no clear response has been provided by the relevant authorities. The silence surrounding this issue only adds to the confusion and uncertainty, potentially having serious consequences for individuals and families in need of assistance from Medicaid programs. In response to this ongoing silence, ABI Resources has escalated its efforts by reaching out to the federal government for assistance. The organization has requested an investigation into management practices, and more detailed information about the programs, invoking the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). With the rights of brain-injured individuals at stake, the lack of transparency and accountability in Connecticut's federally funded programs remains a pressing issue that demands attention. Advocacy groups and concerned citizens continue to await a response, hoping for clarity and resolution as the months of silence persist.