NFDA will take a leading role in Shopping for Funeral Services, a Funeral Rule workshop hosted by the FTC on September 7. The event will focus on a number of issues related to the Funeral Rule including the comments received in response to an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) the agency issued last November. In the ANPR, the FTC inquired about potential changes and updates to the Rule, including whether and how funeral providers should be required to provide pricing online.
The workshop will kick off with opening remarks by FTC Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter. The five panel discussions with representatives from consumer groups, industry, academia and regulators will explore the pros and cons of online price information, the general price list mandated by the rule, and new industry trends in the disposition of human remains. You can view the full agenda here.
NFDA General Counsel Chris Farmer will participate in two panels:
- 9:50-11 a.m. ET – Online Disclosures: Is it Needed? The Pros/Cons
- 1:12-2:05 p.m. ET – General Price List Updates: Fee Disclosures and Mandator Embalming Disclosures
The workshop is a hybrid event and will take place in person and online from 9:30 a.m. ET to 3:15 p.m. ET. More information on how to attend the event in person can be found on the FTC's event page. A link to view the event will be posted on the event page prior to the start of the event. Registration is not required. It will be webcast live on the FTC’s website. Follow the discussion using the hashtag #FuneralsFTC on X (formerly Twitter).
Background
The FTC is in the process of reviewing the Funeral Rule. There are seven specific issues they are considering, which were outlined in the ANPR issued last year:
- Online and Electronic Price Disclosures
- Disclosure of Crematory Fees and Other Costs
- Reduced Basic Services Fee
- New Forms of Disposition
- Embalming Disclosure
- Price List Readability
- Impact on People in Underserved Communities
NFDA has been your strongest advocate during this review process. The association, on your behalf has submitted oral and written comments to the FTC’s requests and proposals.
NFDA leaders and staff have also met FTC officials and been working with Members of Congress to ensure that the process is fair and the voice of the funeral service profession is heard.
There is no timeline to which the FTC is required to publish any proposed changes, although we anticipate proposed changes will be published before the end of the year. Once it does so, there will be a comment period and NFDA will review and comment on the proposed changes before they are finalized.