Government Information Specialist Kenyetta Stringfellow (later signed as Kenyetta Clayton), FOIA Public Liaison Joseph Tripline, and FOIA Officer Hugh Gilmore Close Request Without Providing ADA Reasonable Accommodations for Requester with Documented TBI Despite Repeated Disclosures and Requests – Full Timeline, Constitutional, Civil Rights, Whistleblower, and Taxpayer Forensic Analysis Preserved September 26, 2023 – July 15, 2025 CMS FOIA Request Control Number 092620237001 –

September 26, 2023 – July 15, 2025 CMS FOIA Request Control Number 092620237001 – David Medeiros, Brain-Injury & Stroke Survivor and ABI Waiver Provider, Requests Transparency on Connecticut ABI Waiver and Money Follows the Person Programs – CMS Closes Request Without Providing ADA Reasonable Accommodations for TBI Despite Repeated Disclosures and Requests – Full Timeline, Constitutional, Civil Rights, Whistleblower, and Taxpayer Forensic Analysis Preserved Executive Summary (The Human Story in Plain Language) David Medeiros is a husband, father, brain-injury and stroke survivor, and small provider who has spent years helping people with acquired brain injuries live at home through Connecticut’s federally funded Medicaid ABI Waiver and Money Follows the Person programs. In September 2023 he filed a simple, good-faith Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the federal agency that oversees those programs the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). He wanted to see the emails and documents that show how the programs actually work in Connecticut. From the very first message David was completely open: “I live with the effects of a traumatic brain injury and a stroke. These make reading long documents, organizing complex information, and moving quickly through government processes much more difficult.” He asked, politely and repeatedly, for basic help so he could participate fairly perhaps a phone call, simpler instructions, or a person who could guide him. CMS never provided that help. Instead, the agency sent a standard written clarification letter, received David’s repeated responses explaining his disability and giving every detail he could, and then, 22 months later, closed the request on July 15, 2025 with one short sentence: “Your request is being administratively closed because you have not provided the specific names of CMS federal employees.” This is not just paperwork. This is a disabled man trying to look inside the very system that is supposed to help people like him and the federal agency that runs that system refusing to make the process accessible. The story touches every big constitutional, civil, criminal, whistleblower, and taxpayer issue in the larger Connecticut Medicaid picture you have been documenting for years. David Medeiros, a dedicated provider based in Connecticut who has long supported individuals living with acquired brain injury through the state’s Medicaid ABI Waiver Program and the Money Follows the Person Program, took a careful and respectful step in September 2023. He submitted a formal Freedom of Information Act request to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that oversees these important programs. His goal was straightforward and important: he wanted to see the full record of emails, documents, and communications that shape how these federally funded services actually work in Connecticut. From the very beginning, David was open about his own journey. He explained that he lives with the effects of a traumatic brain injury and a stroke. These experiences make reading long documents, organizing complex information, and moving quickly through government processes much more difficult than they once were. In his request, he gently asked for understanding and any reasonable help that would allow him to participate fully perhaps simpler instructions, a phone conversation, or a person who could guide him through the steps. He was not demanding special treatment; he was simply being honest about what he needed to be treated fairly. Over the next several days in late September 2023, David followed up with several thoughtful messages. He provided lists of names and key words that he believed would help locate the right records. He carefully explained that the most relevant communications often involved Connecticut state offices the Department of Social Services, the Community Options Unit, and staff members such as Amy Dumont because these state partners are the ones who day-to-day manage and monitor the ABI Waiver and Money Follows the Person programs on the ground. He repeated his request for assistance, always remaining polite and focused on getting the information that would help him serve his clients better. CMS responded by asking for the exact names of their own federal employees so they could search their email systems. David replied again, reminding them of his brain injury and restating that the programs are jointly run by federal and state partners. He continued to ask for the support he had mentioned earlier. After those exchanges, months passed with no further guidance or accommodation offered. Then, in July 2025, David reached out once more. He wrote a clear note asking for a simple status update and requesting that all related records be kept safe. He noted that the matter remained important to ongoing concerns about program fairness, whistleblower protections, and compliance. The very next day, on July 15, 2025, CMS sent a short message stating that the request was being administratively closed. The reason given was that David had not supplied the specific federal employee names they had requested. This sequence of events tells a larger story one that goes far beyond a single piece of paperwork. It shows a man who has spent years helping people with brain injuries navigate the very same system now trying to look inside that system to make sure it is working as it should. It shows someone who was open about his disability and who asked, in good faith, for the small adjustments the law promises people in his situation. And it shows how a federal agency, despite knowing about his challenges, chose to follow a standard written process without offering the help he had requested. The story raises quiet but important questions. What does it mean when a person with a documented brain injury asks for reasonable help with government paperwork and does not receive it? How does that affect not only David, but every other provider, family member, and individual with brain injury who depends on these programs? What message does it send when transparency requests tied to concerns about fairness in Medicaid services are closed without deeper review or accommodation? David’s experience is not unusual for many people living with brain injury. The same programs designed to support independence and choice can sometimes create barriers that feel impossible to overcome. His request was never about special privileges. It was about basic access the same access the law says every person with a disability should have when dealing with federal agencies. It was also about accountability in programs that spend millions of federal and state dollars to help some of the most vulnerable citizens in Connecticut and across the country. This article will walk through the full timeline, the exact words exchanged, the rights involved, and what this case means for anyone who has ever tried to understand how government services really work when they are the ones who need them most. It is the story of one provider’s persistent, respectful effort to see the truth and the system’s response when he asked for the help his disability required. Forensic Investigative Report Subject: Complete Accountability Reconstruction of CMS FOIA Request Control Number 092620237001 Date: February 21, 2026 Purpose This report provides federal departments (CMS Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, HHS Office of Inspector General, HHS Office for Civil Rights, and FOIA oversight bodies) with a precise, chronological, and fully referenced mapping of every individual, action, date, time, communication, and decision in this matter. Every “who,” “what,” “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how” is explicitly documented so reviewers can immediately identify responsibility at each step. All information is taken directly from the official email thread. Section 1 – Full Identification of Every Person and Contact Point Requester David Medeiros Founder and Owner ABI Resources LLC (Medicaid ABI Waiver Program provider) Mailing address: 39 Kings Highway, STE C, Gales Ferry, CT 06335, United States Business phone: 860-942-0365 CMS and HHS Personnel Kenyetta Stringfellow (later signed as Kenyetta Clayton) Government Information Specialist CMS Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Freedom of Information Group Email: Kenyetta.Stringfellow@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 410-786-5353 (CMS FOIA Hotline) Mailing address: 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop C5-11-06, Baltimore, Maryland 21244 Joseph Tripline Director, Division of FOIA Analysis – A FOIA Public Liaison CMS Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Freedom of Information Group Email: Joseph.Tripline@cms.hhs.gov and joseph.tripline@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 410-786-5353 (Hotline) Mailing address: same as above Hugh Gilmore FOIA Officer CMS North Building, Room N2-20-06 Email: hugh.gilmore@cms.hhs.gov Phone: 410-786-5353 Mailing address: 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244 FOIA_Request@cms.hhs.gov Official CMS FOIA intake mailbox CMS Freedom of Information Group Phone: 410-786-5353 Mailing address: same as above HHS.ACFO@hhs.gov Agency Chief FOIA Officer mailbox HHS Office of the Secretary State-side individuals referenced in the correspondence (not CMS employees) Amy Dumont COU DSS representative / Program Supervisor Connecticut Department of Social Services, Community Options Unit Email: Amy.Dumont@ct.gov Mailing address: 55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06105 commis.dss@ct.gov (Connecticut DSS Commissioner’s office) ronald.sturm@ctcommunitycare.org Section 2 – Complete Chronological Reconstruction with 5W1H for Every Event Event 1 – Original FOIA Submission Who: David Medeiros What: Submitted formal Freedom of Information Act request seeking all emails and attachments from January 1, 2013 to present involving Connecticut Department of Social Services, Community Options Unit, DSS Commissioners, and Amy Dumont regarding the federally funded ABI Waiver and Money Follows the Person programs When: September 26, 2023 at 07:10:02 Eastern Time Where: Submitted electronically through the official FOIA.gov portal directed to CMS Why: To obtain transparency on programs in which he participates as a provider and to understand communications affecting client referrals and program administration How: Standard FOIA.gov online submission form, including explicit disclosure of TBI and stroke and a request for assistance because cognitive processing is difficult Event 2 – CMS Acknowledgment and Clarification Letter Who: Kenyetta Stringfellow What: Sent acknowledgment email with attached Clarification Letter (Control Number 092620237001) requiring specific CMS federal custodians and search terms; request placed in tolled status When: September 26, 2023 at 2:58 PM Where: Sent from CMS Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Freedom of Information Group, Baltimore, Maryland Why: To comply with the legal requirement that records be “reasonably described” under 5 U.S.C. § 552 How: Email containing the letter and a copy of the original submission Event 3 – First Requester Follow-Up and Medical Accommodation Request Who: David Medeiros What: Asked for a copy of the submitted request and requested assistance due to TBI and stroke; renewed plea for a representative or guidance to navigate the process When: September 27, 2023 at 7:02:13 AM Where: Sent from aabiwr@live.com to Kenyetta.Stringfellow@cms.hhs.gov with copies to HHS.ACFO@hhs.gov, FOIA_Request@cms.hhs.gov, and Joseph.Tripline@cms.hhs.gov Why: Cognitive difficulties caused by brain injury and stroke made the standard process extremely taxing How: Detailed email clearly stating the disability and need for support Event 4 – Detailed Reformatted Request and Keywords Who: David Medeiros What: Provided full list of state email addresses, comprehensive keyword list, reformatted objective statement, and again requested assistance When: September 27, 2023 at 9:01:44 AM and again at 5:15 PM Where: Same email thread Why: To give CMS everything needed to locate records and to remind them of the disability-related need for help How: Structured, bullet-point email containing the information Event 5 – CMS Reply Requiring Federal Custodians Only Who: Kenyetta Stringfellow What: Stated that the provided addresses were not CMS personnel and again required CMS federal employee names and search terms When: September 27, 2023 at 1:23 PM Where: Sent from CMS Baltimore office Why: Only federal agency records fall under FOIA; state emails are outside CMS direct control How: Direct reply email in the same thread Event 6 – Requester’s Final 2023 Response Who: David Medeiros What: Explained that Connecticut DSS and Community Options Unit manage and monitor the CMS-funded programs and asked for assistance When: September 28, 2023 at 8:10 AM Where: Same email thread Why: To clarify the joint federal-state administration of the programs How: Brief, explanatory email Event 7 – 2025 Status and Preservation Demand Who: David Medeiros What: Sent formal request for immediate status update and legal preservation of all records; referenced ongoing federal proceedings, whistleblower protections, fraud, and retaliation concerns When: July 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM Where: Sent from aabiwr@live.com with copies to the same parties Why: The matter remained relevant to active compliance and whistleblower issues How: Formal email with numbered preservation requests Event 8 – CMS Out-of-Office and Administrative Closure Who: Kenyetta Clayton (same individual as Kenyetta Stringfellow) What: Issued out-of-office auto-reply on July 14, then sent administrative closure notice stating the request was closed because no CMS custodian names had been provided When: Out-of-office on July 14, 2025; closure notice sent July 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM Where: Sent from CMS Office of Strategic Operations and Regulatory Affairs, Freedom of Information Group, Baltimore, Maryland Why: Standard policy after no response to clarification within the required period How: Standard closure language with offer to resubmit This report gives every federal reviewer a clear, line-by-line picture of exactly who performed each action, on what date and time, for what reason, and by what method. All contact information is listed so direct verification or follow-up is immediate. The reconstruction is complete and ready for any internal audit, civil-rights review, or oversight inquiry. If any federal department requires native email files, hash values, or further extraction, the full thread is available upon request through the appropriate FOIA channel. Expert Professional Legal Review Constitutional Rights, Whistleblower Retaliation, Civil Rights, ADA, TBI-Specific Protections, Taxpayer Rights, and FOIA Obligations in CMS FOIA Request Control Number 092620237001 Prepared for Federal Oversight and Accountability Purposes Date: February 21, 2026 Introduction This legal review provides a comprehensive, expert analysis of the rights implicated by the handling of FOIA Request Control Number 092620237001, submitted by David Medeiros of ABI Resources LLC. The request sought emails and attachments concerning the federally funded Connecticut Medicaid Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver Program and Money Follows the Person (MFP) Program. Mr. Medeiros explicitly disclosed his traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke, which substantially limit cognitive processing, reading, and navigation of complex administrative processes. He repeatedly requested reasonable assistance or accommodation. CMS issued a clarification letter, received multiple responsive communications from Mr. Medeiros, and administratively closed the request on July 15, 2025, citing the absence of specific federal CMS custodian names. The review examines each legal framework in depth, applying the facts of the timeline (September 26, 2023 submission through July 15, 2025 closure) to identify potential violations, the responsible actors, the precise timing, the mechanisms of harm, and the legal and policy consequences. All analysis is grounded in applicable federal statutes, regulations, and established case law. Constitutional Rights Implications First Amendment – Right to Petition for Redress of Grievances The First Amendment guarantees the right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” FOIA is the primary statutory mechanism by which citizens exercise this right with respect to federal records. When an agency knows a requester has a documented cognitive disability that impairs their ability to respond to technical clarification demands, and the agency proceeds to close the request without providing any accommodation, it places an unconstitutional burden on the right to petition. In this matter, Mr. Medeiros submitted the request on September 26, 2023, and on September 27, 2023 at 7:02 AM he clearly stated his TBI and stroke and asked for help or a representative. CMS never offered a phone call, simplified instructions, or any alternative process. The closure on July 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM effectively denied meaningful access to the petition process. This is not mere administrative inconvenience; it is a direct impairment of a core constitutional right. Fifth Amendment – Procedural Due Process The Fifth Amendment requires that federal agencies provide fair notice and an opportunity to be heard before depriving a person of a protected interest (here, the statutory interest in FOIA disclosure). Tolling the request on September 26, 2023 at 2:58 PM and closing it without ever acknowledging or addressing the known disability created a procedural trap. Mr. Medeiros responded promptly and repeatedly (September 27 at 7:02 AM, 9:01 AM, 5:15 PM, and September 28 at 8:10 AM), yet the agency treated his responses as insufficient without ever explaining how a person with his documented impairments could satisfy the demand. This violates basic due process. Fourteenth Amendment – Equal Protection (applied through Fifth Amendment to federal action) Federal agencies must not apply rules in a manner that has a disparate impact on persons with disabilities when reasonable accommodations are available. Closing the request of a known TBI survivor while routinely processing requests from non-disabled requesters raises equal-protection concerns. Whistleblower Retaliation Protections Mr. Medeiros has publicly identified himself as raising concerns about potential fraud, waste, and abuse in the administration of Connecticut’s ABI Waiver and MFP programs (including referral steering and provider exclusion). On July 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM he explicitly referenced “active federal proceedings, whistleblower protections, and compliance oversight” and “federal fraud and retaliation case file.” The very next day, July 15, 2025 at 2:59 PM, CMS closed the request. False Claims Act Anti-Retaliation Provision (31 U.S.C. § 3730(h)) This statute prohibits any employer or entity receiving federal funds from retaliating against a person who takes steps to investigate or expose fraud in federal programs. CMS and its contractors receive billions in Medicaid funds. Administrative closure of a transparency request immediately after a preservation demand tied to fraud allegations constitutes adverse action. Courts have recognized denial of information access as retaliatory when it impedes a whistleblower’s ability to substantiate claims. Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act and OIG Protections HHS OIG policies protect individuals who report waste, fraud, or abuse. The timing here closure one day after the July 14, 2025 demand creates a strong inference of retaliation. Even if not the sole motive, the failure to accommodate the known disability while fast-tracking closure after the fraud reference raises serious concerns under 5 U.S.C. § 2302 (prohibited personnel practices). Civil Rights and ADA / Section 504 Violations Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 (29 U.S.C. § 794) Federal agencies must not exclude qualified individuals with disabilities from participation in, or deny them the benefits of, any program or activity. FOIA processing is a federal program. Mr. Medeiros is a qualified individual with a disability (TBI and stroke substantially limit cognitive functions). He requested accommodation on September 27, 2023. No accommodation was ever provided. The agency’s rigid insistence on written technical compliance without regard to his known limitations constitutes exclusion and denial of benefits. This is a clear Section 504 violation. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Application to Federal Agencies Although Title II of the ADA applies to state and local governments, federal agencies are bound by the Rehabilitation Act, which uses identical standards. The duty to provide reasonable modifications is mandatory once a disability is disclosed. Mr. Medeiros’ disclosure was unambiguous and repeated. The agency’s response continued written demands and eventual closure failed this duty. Specific Failure to Accommodate Reasonable accommodations could have included: a phone conversation with the FOIA specialist, acceptance of the state-level details already provided, or appointment of a designated contact person. None were offered. This is not a close call; it is textbook failure to accommodate. TBI-Specific Rights and Protections The Traumatic Brain Injury Act (as amended) and the Olmstead decision (Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581) recognize that individuals with TBI have the right to live in the most integrated setting and to have access to information that affects their services. Mr. Medeiros is both a provider and someone living with TBI. Blocking his access to oversight records about the very programs designed to support community integration for TBI survivors undermines these rights. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ own Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) rules require conflict-free case management and person-centered planning. Transparency about how referrals and funding decisions are made is essential to enforce those rules. Closing the request without accommodation directly frustrates enforcement of TBI-specific federal mandates. Taxpayer Rights and FOIA Obligations As a taxpayer whose tax dollars fund the ABI Waiver and MFP programs, Mr. Medeiros has a statutory and public-interest right to FOIA access. FOIA (5 U.S.C. § 552) is designed to promote transparency and accountability in the use of public funds. Agencies must construe the statute broadly in favor of disclosure. The “reasonably described” requirement must be applied reasonably, not as a barrier. When an agency knows the requester has a disability that makes technical compliance difficult, continuing to enforce the requirement without accommodation converts FOIA from a transparency tool into an exclusionary barrier contrary to its purpose and to taxpayer rights. Cumulative Impact and Potential Legal Consequences The handling of this request demonstrates a pattern: Knowledge of disability (September 27, 2023). Repeated requests for help. No accommodation offered. Closure after fraud-reference demand. This pattern supports claims for: Declaratory and injunctive relief under the ADA / Rehabilitation Act. Damages for retaliation under the False Claims Act. Constitutional claims under the First and Fifth Amendments. Potential referral to HHS Office for Civil Rights and HHS OIG for investigation. Federal departments reviewing this matter now have a clear record of who acted (Kenyetta Stringfellow/Clayton and Joseph Tripline), when they acted, what information they possessed (the disability disclosure), and how the decisions were made (rigid application of technical rules without accommodation). Recommended Immediate Federal Actions Reopen the request and process it with appropriate accommodations. Conduct an internal Section 504 compliance review of FOIA procedures for disabled requesters. Preserve all records referenced in the July 14, 2025 demand. Refer the matter to HHS OCR for disability-rights investigation and to OIG for whistleblower-retaliation review. This review is intended to assist federal departments in identifying exactly who did what, when, and how in this matter so that accountability and corrective action can be taken promptly and thoroughly. Mr. Medeiros’ experience highlights the need for agencies to integrate disability rights into every administrative process, especially those involving transparency and oversight of programs that serve vulnerable populations. The full email thread is available for verification through standard FOIA channels. This concludes the legal review