Funeral Home FTC Price Disclosure Compliance Audit Checklist [FREE PDF]

The FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453) requires funeral homes to provide itemized price lists to all consumers who inquire in person, ensuring transparency and preventing deceptive pricing practices. Funeral directors must offer a General Price List (GPL), Casket Price List, and Outer Burial Container Price List at specific points of consumer contact. Non-compliance can result in FTC civil penalties of up to $51,744 per violation, making routine internal audits essential for every funeral establ

  • Industry: Funeral Homes
  • Frequency: Quarterly
  • Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes
  • Role: Funeral Director
  • Total Items: 32
  • Compliance: FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.2 - General Price List, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.3 - Casket Price List, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.4 - Outer Burial Container Price List, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.5 - Telephone Price Disclosures, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.6 - Contracts and Itemized Statements

General Price List (GPL) Availability and Format

Verify that the GPL meets all FTC Funeral Rule requirements for content, availability, and presentation.

  • Is the General Price List available in printed form to any person who inquires in person about funeral arrangements?
  • Does the GPL display the funeral home's name, address, and telephone number at the top of the list?
  • Does the GPL include a statement of the effective date for the prices listed?
  • Are all required itemized categories listed on the GPL, including forwarding remains, receiving remains, and direct cremation?
  • Is the GPL offered to the customer to retain, free of charge?

Casket Price List Compliance

Confirm that the Casket Price List is displayed in the casket selection room and meets all FTC formatting and disclosure requirements.

  • Is a printed or physical Casket Price List available in the casket selection room or area?
  • Does each casket in the selection room have an individual price tag displayed in a conspicuous manner?
  • Does the Casket Price List include a description of each casket's material, gauge, and finish?
  • Are casket prices on the display list consistent with the prices charged at the time of sale?
  • Are caskets offered for sale that are not on display listed on the Casket Price List with descriptions?

Outer Burial Container Price List (OBCPL) Compliance

Ensure that outer burial container pricing disclosures meet FTC requirements for availability and format.

  • Is a printed Outer Burial Container Price List available whenever outer burial containers are shown or discussed?
  • Does the OBCPL include the required state law disclosure regarding outer burial containers and ground settling?
  • Are all outer burial containers offered by the funeral home listed with prices and identifying descriptions?
  • Is the consumer offered the OBCPL to retain at no charge?

Telephone Price Disclosure Procedures

Audit staff procedures and scripts for providing accurate price information over the telephone as required by the FTC Funeral Rule.

  • Are staff trained and able to provide accurate price information to any person who inquires by telephone?
  • Does the funeral home have a documented telephone disclosure procedure or script for staff to follow?
  • Are the prices quoted over the telephone consistent with prices listed on current printed price lists?
  • Are staff able to provide the price of a direct cremation or immediate burial when specifically requested by telephone?

Itemized Statement of Goods and Services Selected

Verify that itemized statements provided to consumers at the conclusion of funeral arrangements comply with FTC requirements.

  • Is an itemized written statement provided to each consumer at the conclusion of discussion of funeral arrangements?
  • Does the itemized statement show the price for each individual good or service selected?
  • Does the itemized statement include the required cash advance item disclosures with estimated or actual costs?
  • Does the itemized statement include a disclosure about the embalming decision if embalming was performed?
  • Are completed itemized statements retained on file for a minimum period consistent with state mortuary board record-keeping requirements?

Embalming Authorization and Disclosure Requirements

Confirm that embalming is only performed with proper authorization and that required disclosures are provided to consumers.

  • Does the funeral home obtain prior written or verbal authorization before performing embalming on a deceased?
  • Are consumers informed in writing that embalming is not required by law in most cases?
  • Does the funeral home document all embalming authorizations and retain records of consumer consent?
  • Are consumers offered alternatives to embalming (e.g., refrigeration) when applicable?

Staff Training and Compliance Documentation

Review records to confirm that all staff are trained on FTC Funeral Rule requirements and that the funeral home maintains adequate compliance documentation.

  • Have all funeral arrangers and front-line staff received documented training on FTC Funeral Rule requirements within the past 12 months?
  • Are all price lists currently on display and in use reviewed and updated at least annually?
  • Does the funeral home maintain a compliance file including historical GPL versions, staff training records, and audit logs?
  • Has the funeral home conducted an internal or third-party FTC Funeral Rule compliance audit within the past 12 months?
  • Please note any compliance deficiencies identified during this audit and corrective actions required.

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Why Use This Funeral Home FTC Price Disclosure Compliance Audit Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This funeral home ftc price disclosure compliance audit checklist [free pdf] helps funeral homes teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for funeral director professionals, this checklist covers 32 critical inspection points across 7 sections. Recommended frequency: quarterly.

Ensures compliance with FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.2 - General Price List, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.3 - Casket Price List, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.4 - Outer Burial Container Price List, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.5 - Telephone Price Disclosures, FTC Funeral Rule 16 CFR 453.6 - Contracts and Itemized Statements. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Funeral Home FTC Price Disclosure Compliance Audit Checklist [FREE PDF] cover?

This checklist covers 32 inspection items across 7 sections: General Price List (GPL) Availability and Format, Casket Price List Compliance, Outer Burial Container Price List (OBCPL) Compliance, Telephone Price Disclosure Procedures, Itemized Statement of Goods and Services Selected, Embalming Authorization and Disclosure Requirements, Staff Training and Compliance Documentation. It is designed for funeral homes operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed quarterly. Each completion takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Who should use this Funeral Home FTC Price Disclosure Compliance Audit Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This checklist is designed for Funeral Director professionals in the funeral homes industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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