Forensic Accountability Report (Nov. 13, 2023): CT DSS Denial of Access to Official Medicaid ABI Waiver Provider Directory

Permanent Public Record – David-Medeiros.com Accountability Archive Forensic Accountability Report Denial of Access to Directory of Qualified Providers Medicaid Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver Program Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request to Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) Published: February 17, 2026 Author: David Medeiros, Brain-Injury & Stroke Survivor, Founder & Provider, ABI Resources – Medicaid Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver Program Executive Summary (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) WHO Requester: David Medeiros, brain-injury and stroke survivor, founder and owner of ABI Resources, a Medicaid ABI Waiver Program provider. Address: 39 Kings Highway, Suite C, Gales Ferry, CT 06335 Website: www.CTbrainINJURY.com Agency: Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), FOIA Officer. Email: FOIA.DSS@ct.gov Additional Recipients: Freedom of Information Commission (FOI@ct.gov); Maura Pardo (Maura.Pardo@cga.ct.gov); Paul Formica (paul.formica@cga.ct.gov bounced due to invalid domain); Rob Brule (robbrule@icloud.com); Whistleblower Complaints (wbcomplaints@cga.ct.gov). Referenced Third Party: Allied Community Resources (ACR) contacts: Valerie Giannelli (vgiannelli@alliedgroup.org), Nicole Simmons (nsimmons@alliedgroup.org), Marihonor Flag (mflagg@alliedgroup.org). WHAT Formal FOIA request for the official Directory of Qualified Providers (both agency and private lists) for the Medicaid ABI Waiver Program, plus process/criteria documentation, statistical data, policy manuals, internal communications, and records on public accessibility/procedure. DSS provided partial responses (2-1-1 map, policies), claimed no access to the directory despite oversight role, and directed requester to Allied Community Resources. Multiple appeals highlighted two distinct directories (ABI Waiver Program 1 and 2), discrepancies in responses, public interest, and ADA accommodations for brain injury. Expedited processing requested on January 3, 2024. Request remains unresolved, with no full directory provided. WHEN (All Exact Dates & Times from Emails) November 13, 2023, 6:52 AM EST: Initial FOIA request submitted. November 13, 2023, 9:49 AM EST: DSS acknowledges receipt. November 13, 2023, 10:02 AM EST: DSS provides partial response and asks for clarification on item g. November 14, 2023, 10:37 AM EST: DSS sends attached policy information and second clarification question. November 14, 2023, 2:11 PM EST: Detailed response from requester clarifying directory request and item g. November 14, 2023, 3:02 PM EST: Requester forwards response to FOI and DSS. November 14, 2023, 3:53 PM EST: DSS claims no access to directory, considers most portions completed except d. November 15, 2023, 6:25 AM EST: Formal appeal filed. November 15, 2023, 10:51 AM EST: DSS states contacted Allied, directed to form with 5–8 day turnaround. November 15, 2023, 11:05 AM EST: Requester provides Allied contacts and notes concern. November 16, 2023, 10:27 AM EST: DSS confirms contacts and waiting for response. November 21, 2023, 1:01 PM EST: DSS attaches “Provider Directory” and notes working on statistical data. December 12, 2023, 2:08 PM EST: Revised appeal filed after discovering two directories. January 3, 2024, 12:19 PM EST: Formal expedited-processing request. Read Receipts & Delivery Confirmations All DSS/FOI deliveries confirmed (postmaster@ct.gov, postmaster@outlook.com). Paul Formica's email bounced (invalid domain: cga.ct.gove). Whistleblower Complaints read on November 16, 2023, 6:04 PM UTC. Maura Pardo delivery confirmed. WHERE Connecticut Department of Social Services, Office of Legal Affairs (55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105). Freedom of Information Commission (FOI@ct.gov). Allied Community Resources (ACR) – referenced but not direct party. Public Record: David-Medeiros.com – Accountability Archive. WHY The directory is essential for disabled individuals and families to make informed provider choices. DSS's refusal to provide it (claiming no access while overseeing Allied) creates barriers to transparency, equitable access, and self-advocacy violating public interest under FOIA and ADA accommodations for brain injury. HOW DSS consistently claimed “does not have access” to records maintained by Allied, provided 2-1-1 map instead, and required requester to apply through Allied. Appeals with evidence of two directories and ADA needs were not fully resolved. Pattern shows systemic obstruction to public records. Detailed Forensic Timeline (Email-by-Email Breakdown) November 13, 2023, 6:52 AM EST From: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 To: DSS, FOIA Subject: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Requests directory, process/criteria, provider list, statistics, policies, internals, public accessibility records. Notes disability and requests accessible format. Delivery: Confirmed to FOIA.DSS@ct.gov November 13, 2023, 9:49 AM EST From: DSS, FOIA To: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 ; DSS, FOIA Subject: RE: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Acknowledges receipt, states will respond per CT FOIA, mentions potential costs. November 13, 2023, 10:02 AM EST From: DSS, FOIA To: DSS, FOIA ; ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 Subject: RE: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Provides partial response: 2-1-1 map for directory, Allied handles credentialing, attached waiver document, policies attached. Asks clarification on item g. Notes item f already in prior request. November 14, 2023, 10:37 AM EST From: DSS, FOIA To: DSS, FOIA ; ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 Subject: RE: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Attaches policy information, explains partial fulfillment, second clarification on item g. November 14, 2023, 2:11 PM EST From: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 To: DSS, FOIA Cc: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 Subject: Re: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Clarifies 2-1-1 is not the directory, reiterates request for both agency and private lists in document format. Provides detailed breakdown of item g records (creation, maintenance, presentation, public access, transparency). November 14, 2023, 3:02 PM EST From: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 To: FOI ; DSS, FOIA Subject: Fw: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Forwards the 2:11 PM response to FOI. November 14, 2023, 3:53 PM EST From: DSS, FOIA To: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 ; FOI ; DSS, FOIA Subject: RE: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Claims no access to directory (maintained by Allied), considers most portions completed except d, directs to Allied application. November 15, 2023, 6:25 AM EST From: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 To: DSS, FOIA ; FOI Cc: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 Subject: Re: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Formal appeal citing public interest, agency oversight, transparency. Reiterates detailed records for item g. November 15, 2023, 10:51 AM EST From: DSS, FOIA To: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 ; DSS, FOIA ; FOI Subject: RE: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: States contacted Allied, directed to form (5–8 day turnaround), working on direct contact. November 15, 2023, 11:05 AM EST From: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 To: DSS, FOIA ; FOI Cc: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 Subject: Re: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Provides Allied contacts, notes concern that DSS lacks this information. November 16, 2023, 10:27 AM EST From: DSS, FOIA To: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 ; DSS, FOIA ; FOI Subject: RE: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Apologizes for confusion, confirms contacts, waiting for response from Giannelli and Flag (out of office). November 21, 2023, 1:01 PM EST From: DSS, FOIA To: DSS, FOIA ; ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365; FOI Subject: RE: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Attachment: Provider Directory (not specified in thread). Key Content: Attaches directory, still working on statistical data. December 12, 2023, 2:08 PM EST From: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 To: DSS, FOIA ; FOI Cc: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 Subject: Re: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Revised appeal after discovering two directories from ACR. Lists 8 grounds, reaffirms related documents, requests accessible format due to disability. January 3, 2024, 12:19 PM EST From: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 To: DSS, FOIA ; FOI Cc: ABI RESOURCES 860 942-0365 Subject: Re: Directory of Qualified Providers, Medicaid ABI Waiver Program | Freedom of Information Act FOIA Request | Connecticut Gov. 11.13.2023 Key Content: Formal expedited-processing request citing ADA accommodations, whistleblower protections, public interest, and personal circumstances. Read Receipts & Delivery Confirmations All DSS/FOI emails confirmed delivered (postmaster@ct.gov, postmaster@outlook.com). Whistleblower Complaints read November 16, 2023, 6:04 PM UTC. Maura Pardo delivery confirmed. Core Allegations (Preserved Verbatim from Thread) "In response, regarding my Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for the DSS Medicaid ABI Waiver program directory of providers, specifically addressing portions a) & g) of my request." "Recent communications with Allied Community Resources (ACR) have revealed that there are two distinct directories for the ABI Waiver Program – namely, ABI Waiver Program 1 and ABI Waiver Program 2, each listing different providers and services. ACR has indicated that these directories are provided and maintained by the Connecticut Department of Social Services (CT DSS)." "Due to my disability, I request that the information be provided in an accessible electronic format. This accommodation is essential for my accessibility and participation." "Under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552), I hereby formally request expedited processing of my recent FOIA application due to compelling needs..." Direct Harm Analysis (Multi-Angle View) To David Medeiros (Brain-Injury Survivor): Repeated clarifications and appeals created cognitive load, fatigue, and processing delays barriers the ADA requires accommodation for. To ABI Resources: Hindered access to official directories affects business operations and service provision. To Consumers: No public directory means limited informed choice, undermining program effectiveness. Edge Cases: DSS claiming no access despite oversight role creates accountability gaps; 2-1-1 map does not provide full contact/qualification details. Broader Implications (Why the World Needs to Know) This FOIA thread documents how a state agency overseeing a federally funded disability program claims no access to its own provider directory, forcing requesters to navigate third parties and file multiple appeals. It raises serious questions about transparency, ADA compliance, and public access in Medicaid programs serving vulnerable populations. When disabled individuals must fight for basic program information, it erodes trust and equity nationwide. Recommendations Immediate release of both ABI Waiver Program directories in accessible format. Disclosure of all requested records on creation, maintenance, presentation, and public access. Confirmation of expedited processing and ADA accommodations. Independent audit of DSS FOIA practices. Preservation of all records for oversight. All source emails, read receipts, and appeals preserved and publicly available in the Accountability Archive at David-Medeiros.com Professional Contact Information David Medeiros ABI Resources – Medicaid Acquired Brain Injury Waiver Program Provider 39 Kings Highway, Suite C Gales Ferry, CT 06335 Phone: 860-942-0365 Website: www.CTbrainINJURY.com Permanent Archive: David-Medeiros.com