Latest News
Annual OFDA March Madness Bracket Challenge
Get Your Brackets Ready!
Andrew J. Allman, CAE, Named New OFDA Executive Director
Melissa S. Sullivan to Retire May 31st
Scott Gilligan Legal Quiz
Digital Director answer of the week!
Body Donations by Government Officials
By T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
The obligation for townships and municipalities to pay disposition costs for deceased indigent residents is statutory; it is not discretionary.
Coroner or No Coroner, How Do You Know?
by: Mark Kassouf, Assistant State Registrar/Chief Fraud Officer, ODH
How do we know if a death should be a coroner's case?
Preneed Compliance Manual for Ohio's New Preneed Statute
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
BECAUSE OF THE NEW CONTRACT DISCLOSURES AND MANDATORY NOTICES REQUIRED BY THE LAW, A FUNERAL HOME THAT DOES NOT REVISE ITS PRENEED CONTRACTS BEFORE JULY 5, 2009 WILL BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW
Ohio Enacts New Pre-Need Law
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
SB 196, which was signed by Governor Strickland on January 6, 2009, will go into effect on April 6, 2009.
Required Forms for Posting in your Funeral Home
There are some new forms for 2009
Funeral homes are getting mail from companies that are trying to sell the required posters for large fees. Download them here for free.
Issues Under The Right of Disposition Law
By T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
With the second anniversary of the Ohio Right of Disposition law having just occurred, it may be worthwhile to take a look at certain issues that have arisen under the new law.
Proper Glove Storage and Life Expectancy
By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET
"Did you know some glove manufacturers have assigned expiration dates for their gloves?"
Ohio Law Restricting Location of Crematory Does Not Apply to Funeral Home
By T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
"Prior to the retort being installed in the funeral home, the objecting neighbor threatened legal action if the crematory was installed."
What Does OSHA Mean by a "Suitable" Emergency Shower and Eyewash?
By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET
A good question that doesn't have a clear answer!
MAKING CLAIMS ON NPS PRENEED INSURANCE POLICIES
By T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
"The wording in some of the releases and instructions has caused confusion and consternation to funeral homes holding NPS preneed contracts. In this update, we attempt to clarify the confusion."
Should you be Storing Your Chemicals in a Flammable Cabinet?
By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET
"You might check to see what other potentially flammable materials you have onsite and check the products' MSDSs."
IRS Increases Business Mileage Rate
By T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
Due to the unprecedented increase in gas prices, the IRS has created an exception this year and calculated a new mid-year increase.
Indigent Funeral Statute Renumbered
By T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
In the 2007 budget bill (HB 119), 5101.521 was renumbered and taken out of Chapter 51. It is now located in 9.15 of the General Provisions preamble to the Ohio Revised Code.
Fire Extinguisher Inspections
By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET
Let Barb help your firm avoid an OSHA citation.
URGENT UPDATE
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
The problems confronting National Prearranged Services, Inc. (NPS) and its affiliated insurance company, Lincoln Memorial Life Insurance Company (Lincoln Memorial), continue to mount.
UPDATE ON PRENEED ISSUES
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
In the past few months, there have been new and renewed regulatory initiatives that could impact the methods that Ohio funeral homes use in selling preneed funeral goods and services to consumers.
SSA-721 FORM NOT REQUIRED BY SSA FOR OHIO DEATHS
Due to the success of EDRS, the Social Security Administration (SSA) no longer requires an SSA-721 form to report an Ohio death.
SCAM ALERT
Summer Scams are back
Our office has recently learned that funeral related scams are on the rise again.
ODH EDRS Online Help
Visit the Ohio Department of Health online resources for EDRS assistance.
Disinfectant Survey Please Participate!
By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET
Is the disinfectant you're using in the prep room appropriate? Maybe, maybe not.
EDRS Help Desk
Ohio Department of Health
Contact information for the new Electronic Death Registration System Help Desk
DEALING WITH UNCLAIMED REMAINS
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
Ohio law requires funeral directors to certify in writing that they made a good faith effort to locate relatives.
Create a Health Portrait of Your Family!
By Barb Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET
The U.S. Surgeon General's Office has developed a FREE web-based tool called My Family Health Portrait that allows you to create a personalized family health history report.
Resource Center
by Janet Blankenship - Resource Coordinator
Traumatic loss & sudden death resources are highlighted.
CREMATION JEWELRY SCAM ALERT
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
OFDA members are strongly urged to ignore and disregard any cremation jewelry orders from outside of the country, especially Nigeria
Safeguards Against Preneed Fraud
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
OFDA members should ensure that the following three requirements are strictly followed in all preneed transactions by the funeral home.
Funeral Directors Flock to EDRS
Ohio Department of Health
Since the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Vital Statistics began offering the Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS); funeral directors have registered in record numbers.
CLARIFICATION ON SALES TAX OF PRENEED CONTRACTS
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
The March, 2006 OFDA Newsletter contained an article on sales tax compliance by Ohio funeral homes. The issues discussed in the article generated quite a few calls to OFDA so Scott Gilligan provides additional information.
Ohio Sales Tax Compliance by Funeral Homes
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
Within the tax rules there are several exceptions which funeral homes must be aware of to avoid liability for unpaid sales tax and to avoid collecting sales tax when it is not due.
Handling Remains That Contain Drug-Resistant Acinetobacter
By: Erin Brown, Industrial Hygienist, Safex
Though Acinetobacter infections rarely occur outside of healthcare settings, embalmers and those who handle remains should be aware of this drug-resistant group of bacteria.
Right of Disposition Case Underscores Need for New Law
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
OFDA has been working over the last year with the Ohio Bar Association to put together a right of disposition law.
Issues Surrounding the Authorization of Cremation
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
Since cremation is an irreversible process and wrongful cremation cases involve liability awards averaging $350,000, it is prudent for funeral homes to check and confirm their interpretation of the statute
Are You Ready for the Bird Flu?
By Barbara K. Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET, Safex
We have been hearing a lot about the threat of a bird flu pandemic have you thought about what implications such an event would have on funeral home operations?
Ohio Introduces its New Electronic Death Registration System (EDRS)
by Mark Kassouf, Assistant State Registrar
The State of Ohio is making the Web based EDRS system available free of charge to all funeral directors.
Flesh-Eating Bacteria: Another Good Reason to Observe Universal Precautions!
By Barbara K. Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET, Safex
If you are an embalmer or assist in the handling of remains and you need another good reason why you should observe universal precautions: necrotizing fasciitis (NF).
Protecting Bereaved Families from Fraud
By: T. Scott Gilligan, OFDA General Counsel
Many funeral homes routinely alert families about the risks of fraudulent acts that may be directed against them during the time of a funeral. Learn more here.
Do You Really Have to Weigh Your Infectious Waste?
By Barbara K. Garrison, M.S., CHMM, CET
Yes, you really do. The requirement is found in the Ohio Administrative Code 3745-27-30. Learn more here.
Master Trust is now ONLINE
Access your account balances via the new features at the ASI website: www.administrativesystems.com
