Change in Policy – No Permit Required for Fetal Loss

From Toni Miller, Policy Manager & Community Partner Liaison Arizona Department of Health Services The Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Vital Records (Department) will be implementing the new death registration system, DAVE, on October 2, 2017.  The DAVE system was developed to enhance death registration workflows statewide and to adhere to Statutes and Rules that govern the operation of Vital Records.  The Department has shared the enhancements and workflow changes with our partners. As …

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NFDA Announces 2017 Election Results

Kenneth A. Cahall to lead association as 2017-18 president Brookfield, Wis. – The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is pleased to announce that qualified association members have elected the following individuals to serve as officers on the 2017-18 Board of Directors: President-elect Charles “Chuck” T. Bowman, CMSP, CFSP, CCO; Treasurer R. Bryant Hightower Jr., CFSP; and Secretary Randall P. “Randy” Anderson, CFSP, CCO. The 2017-18 NFDA Board of Directors will be led by President Kenneth …

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D.A.V.E. – Go Live Date, Best Practices & Q&A

The D.A.V.E. Go-Live dates is Monday, October 2, 2017. Visit the D.A.V.E. web page for information about Funeral Home training and videos. Register by September 5th for the September 11th in-person D.A.V.E. Training.  On-board your funeral home and staff for D.A.V.E. by completing the registration packet linked below and fax the documents to the ADHS office at 602-364-1257. ► Funeral Home Registration Packet Updated 7.25.2017 (DAVE)   Message from the Arizona Department of Health Services: On behalf of …

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New Legislation for Endowed-Care Cemeteries – Unitrust

Introduced in the 2017 Legislative Session was HB2203, which allows for Cemeteries in Arizona to utilize a Unitrust to maintain their property. Bill Text Main Points The goal is to provide enough revenue to provide for the perpetual maintenance of cemetery properties, current limitations make that increasingly difficult in a persistently low interest rate/bond yield market. There are many necessary safeguards in place to ensure prudent expenditures. The use of a Unitrust is not mandatory. …

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AZ Dept. of Health Services – State Bureau of Vital Records D.A.V.E System

As most you are aware the State Bureau of Vital Records has acquired a new application of vital events. The anticipation is that this will make Arizona a 100% electronic state.  Something that is changing is that with D.A.V.E. medical certifies will be added in this electronic system in addition to Funeral homes and others who already have access to VSIMS.   So these medical certifiers will be given an I.D. and password.   All physicians will …

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A Heritage of Deceit

Crossing Fingers - Heritage Cremation Provider

By Steven Palmer, written for Nomis Publications August 2017 Edition “When one with honeyed words but evil mind persuades the mob, great woes befall the state.”  –  Euripides, Orestes Massachusetts citizens’ complaints of a Colorado based cremation provider helped put the final nails in their respective cremation containers. On June 6, 2017, the Colorado Office of Funeral Home and Crematory Registration suspended the registration of Heritage Cremation Provider, LLC for failing to notify customers that it subcontracted its …

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Opioid Epidemic and How the Funeral Profession Can Help

Grief-opioid-epidemic

Opioid Epidemic: State of Emergency A White House commission is urging the president to declare an opioid epidemic state of emergency. “America is enduring a death toll equal to September 11th every three weeks,” the commission’s report notes, saying a state of emergency would “force Congress to focus on funding” ways to combat the growing epidemic. The opioid crisis, which now kills over 100 Americans a day, is also having a devastating effect on business. Companies across the country …

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NFDA Cremation and Burial Report Shows Rate of Cremation at All-time High

Increase in Cremation Impacts the Way Families Honor the Lives of Their Loved Ones Brookfield, Wis. (July 18, 2017) – The rate of cremation in the United States is at an all-time high and surpassed the rate of burial for the second year in a row according to the National Funeral Directors Association’s (NFDA) 2017 Cremation and Burial Report. The annual report found that 50.2 percent of Americans chose cremation in 2016, up from 48.5 …

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