David Evans, director of the Wareham Emergency Medical Services, cleared up some misinterpreted information from the last Board of Selectmen meeting.

Chairman Patrick Tropeano, who browsed through online feedback from the community regarding the ambulance bill “write off” that the board voted on at its last meeting, found the board's action on ambulance bills to be misunderstood.

Ambulance bills are sent directly to the patients. Some pay all of the bill, while others may pay a very low percentage. Still others pay nothing at all. Despite the reasons why bills are left unpaid, the Wareham EMS has a 93 percent collection rate, meaning most of the outstanding $458,736.16 will still be collected.

“Apparently we need some clarification,” Tropeano said. “The public thinks we took $400,000 and threw it away.”

Evans sat before the board on Tuesday evening to explain the process of EMS work and why some bills are left unpaid. He told the public that people are only billed if taken to the hospital. When in transport, people are asked for their insurance information.

“The write-offs are when people think they don't have any money due, since the insurance pays a part of it,” said Evans, referring to patients who are responsible for co-pays but believe that the entirety of insurance bills will be paid off by the company.

Some patients don't have insurance at all, while others pass away after making it to the hospital. Some are dragged through court cases that last for years. Others can’t afford to pay the bills at all.

“A lot of people we bring in, some are living in the woods, in the hotels, and they have to decide which bill they have to pay first,” said Evans. “The ambulance bills are at the bottom of the pile and they can't afford to pay those bills.”

Selectmen Judith Whiteside clarified that the EMS is a service for the community of Wareham, not a moneymaker.