Alana Durkin Richer of the Associated Press compiled a good article that appeared in the Detroit News that you can read here.  The article is on the growing problem of what to do with indigent bodies when states or municipalities responsible for them are either running out of money or the expected reimbursement to funeral homes is too small for funeral homes to want the task of caring for these people.  The article is entitled, “Unclaimed bodies pile up as payments Wither.”

NFDA General Counsel Scott Gilligan is quoted in the article, “some smaller towns often won’t budget for it and funeral directors have to fight to just get paid $350.”

Funeral Director Daily take:  This is not the first time we have heard or written about these problems occurring.  The issue of government reimbursement for indigent care is really starting to trend and we believe that it needs to be talked about before funeral homes just say they cannot do it anymore for the fees offered.