The last section of the Funeral Rule notice (Issues 37-40) raises questions whether there are funeral provider practices that disproportionately affect minority communities.  Again, we are not quite sure the intent of the FTC when raising these questions.  Concerns have been raised that FEMA’s COVID-19 funeral assistance did not benefit the minority communities as much as the Biden administration had expected.  Leaders of the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association have also cited how little of the COVID relief funds have been paid to minority owned funeral homes.  But, these issues do have to do with funeral industry business practices.  The FTC may be providing an opportunity for the minority communities to identify industry business practices that create systemic barriers to competition by minority businesses.   We will learn more after comments are posted to this section of the notice.