CCO Legal Compliance & Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under FTC Funeral Rule, cremation providers must give price information to consumers who inquire in person using which document?
- General Price List (Correct answer)
- Statement of Goods and Services Selected
- Cremation Authorization Form
- Certificate of Disposition
Correct answer: General Price List
The FTC Funeral Rule requires funeral homes and cremation providers to give consumers a General Price List (GPL) when they inquire in person about arrangements.
Question 2: A crematory receives a body accompanied by a pacemaker notation on the intake form. What is the legally and operationally required first step?
- Begin cremation immediately since the notation is informational only
- Remove or arrange removal of the pacemaker before cremation (Correct answer)
- Contact the state health department for guidance
- Cremate the body and dispose of device fragments separately
Correct answer: Remove or arrange removal of the pacemaker before cremation
Pacemakers and other implanted devices containing batteries must be removed before cremation because they can explode, posing serious safety and liability risks.
Question 3: Which federal agency enforces the requirement that crematories disclose itemized prices and prohibit misrepresentation of goods and services?
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Federal Trade Commission (Correct answer)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- Environmental Protection Agency
Correct answer: Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Funeral Rule, which mandates transparent pricing and prohibits deceptive practices by funeral homes and crematories.
Question 4: A cremation authorization form is signed by the next-of-kin. If the deceased left written cremation instructions in a pre-need contract, which document generally takes legal precedence?
- The next-of-kin authorization always supersedes any pre-need document
- The pre-need contract with the decedent's written wishes typically governs (Correct answer)
- State law always defers to the most recent signature regardless of source
- The funeral director makes the final determination
Correct answer: The pre-need contract with the decedent's written wishes typically governs
In most U.S. jurisdictions, a decedent's written pre-need instructions for cremation take legal precedence over next-of-kin preferences, as the decedent's own wishes are paramount.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of completing a cremation log for every cremation performed?
- To satisfy insurance billing requirements
- To provide a traceable chain of custody and operational record (Correct answer)
- To meet EPA air quality reporting thresholds
- To calculate monthly cremation fees
Correct answer: To provide a traceable chain of custody and operational record
A cremation log establishes a documented chain of custody, ensuring each cremation is traceable from body receipt through final disposition of cremated remains.
Question 6: Which of the following items of information is typically NOT required on a cremation identification tag placed with the body throughout the cremation process?
- Decedent's full name
- Case or file number
- Cremation operator's personal home address (Correct answer)
- Date of cremation
Correct answer: Cremation operator's personal home address
Identification tags require decedent name, case number, and cremation date, but the operator's personal home address is never a required or appropriate data element.
Question 7: In most U.S. states, after cremation is complete, how long may a crematory hold cremated remains before legal issues regarding abandonment can arise?
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 90 days
- Varies by state statute, commonly 30 to 120 days (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Varies by state statute, commonly 30 to 120 days
Statutes governing the holding period for unclaimed cremated remains vary significantly by state, ranging from 30 to 120 days or more before abandonment provisions apply.
CCO Legal Compliance & Documentation 2
Under FTC Funeral Rule, cremation providers must give price information to consumers who inquire in person using which document?