(a) Minimum Burial Cost - All burial assistance payments will be tested against the MBC submitted by the mortician. The following criteria apply to the MBC. - (i) Mortician's Professional Services
- (A) The MBC may include the following services:
- (I) Burial
- (1.) removal of the deceased from place of death to a mortuary,
- (2.) minimum services of staff,
- (3.) professional embalming when required,
- (4.) other preparation of the body (dressing and casketing),
- (5.) graveside committal service if requested,
- (6.) minimum casket offered on casket price list,
- (II) Cremation
- (1.) removal of the deceased from place of death to a mortuary,
- (2.) minimum services of staff,
- (3.) professional embalming when required,
- (4.) minimum cremation container,
- (5.) transportation to crematory,
- (7.) return of ashes to next of kin,
- (8.) graveside service for internment of ashes if requested.
- (B) The MBC will NOT include the following funeral services or cash advances:
- (II) church/chapel services,
- (IV) memorial books, folders and other printed goods,
- (V) cash advances, which include but are not limited to:
- (1.) certified copies of the death certificate,
- (3.) minister gratuities,
- (ii) Transportation
- (A) The MBC will include the following transportation costs:
- (I) Out of state - Transportation for the purposes of removal of the deceased from an out-of-state place of death to a mortuary in Wyoming when:
- (1.) the eligible person was receiving medical treatment out of state at the time of death, or
- (2.) a Medicaid eligible child in DFS custody was receiving treatment or was visiting, placed or living out of state at the time of death.
- (II) Within the state - Transportation for the purposes of removal of the deceased from place of death to a mortuary when:
- (1.) the mortuary normally and customarily provides services to that outlying community, or
- (2.) the eligible individual has a prepaid burial contract and/or burial space arrangements in another location.
- (B) The MBC will indicate all potential and typical transportation scenarios.
- (C) Transportation will NOT be allowed:
- (I) When the family makes a request to transport the deceased to a specific location other than those previously outlined, or
- (II) to transport the deceased back to the state when he/she was out of state for any reason other than those previously outlined (i.e. vacation).
(b) Mortician's Billing Considerations - All burial assistance charges will be tested against the MBC which is current and on file with DFS. - (i) The mortician must, at least annually in July, provide DFS with an original and one duplicate of the MBC. The mortician is responsible for notifying DFS, in writing, of any changes in the MBC.
- (ii) The mortician must include a copy of the current General Price List when filing the MBC with DFS.
- (iii) DFS will review each MBC upon receipt to ensure all costs are allowable and appropriate. The current General Price List shall be used to verify minimum charges on the MBC.
- (iv) The bill submitted to the agency for payment must be the original and exclusive itemized bill which was signed by the deceased's authorized representative.
- (v) If there is a bona fide charge or service the mortician is required to provide, an explanation should be made on the bill. A legitimate charge of this type will not be tested against the MBC or paid. These charges could include, but are not limited to: sales tax, when the mortician must charge, and vaults, when required by a cemetery.