The Joint Committee on Public Health is holding a public hearing Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., to consider many proposed bills, including An Act expanding after-death care options, House Bill (H2193) and Senate Bill (S1339). This proposed Massachusetts…
Continue readingPlease join us on Sunday, October 22, 2:00-4:00 pm, for our Annual Meeting and Program: What’s New and What’s Changing to Help Funeral Consumers? Location: Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, 220 Main Street, Northampton, MA, right next to City…
Continue readingThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be holding a free public workshop on September 7, 2023, at 9:30am on the proposed revisions to the Funeral Rule. The event is in Washington, D.C., but will be webcast live on the FTC’s…
Continue readingUpdate 7/25/23: The July 26 Hearing was cancelled 7/21/23. The Public Health Committee has now postponed the hearing until at least September (the exact date to be determined). You may still send in WRITTEN testimony to the Committee and reach…
Continue reading“We’re hearing about a new scheme that involves imposters preying on people who are grieving the loss of a loved one,” writes Alvaro Puig, Consumer Education Specialist, in an FTC Consumer Alert dated June 14, 2023. “The imposters pretend to…
Continue readingOur Spring newsletter is ready! You can read it here on this website. Print copies are being sent via bulk mail to our members who are print subscribers, and to organizations on our “courtesy” list. Email notices via Mailchimp will soon…
Continue readingI’m learning new words (e.g., terramation) and options in death care, and optimistic about changes now underway. I’m eager to help share the news. On Saturday morning May 6, 2023, I attended a Zoom program hosted by the FCA of…
Continue readingWe have added an article from FCA about third-party caskets: your rights and what funeral homes are allowed to do, and not allowed to do. We have also updated contact information (on our Burials page under the Options tab) for…
Continue readingOur FCAWM board received the following notice from the national Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) about some changes in their organization. We are a separate nonprofit organization, affiliated with FCA. This message was sent to all their Affiliates. Dear Funeral Consumers…
Continue readingAmong proposed new bills filed in the current session of the Massachusetts legislature are several related to burial options, funeral assistance, and other matters of interest to our consumer advocacy group. We have now set up a committee, chaired by…
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