He declined to say how much debt was sold to Capio.

The amount paid for debt varies by the type of debt. Typically, debt buyers will pay more for mortgage debt and less for medical and utility debt, according to a 2013 report by the Federal Trade Commission.

On average, debt buyers paid 5 cents for each dollar of medical debt purchased in 2008, the study found.

Brown said buyers such as Capio purchase medical debt in bulk for a specific price, and anything they can collect over that is a profit for them.

CAN CP PROVE DEBT?

Cathleen Schmidt was sued in November over a disputed $1,183 bill for care provided at St. Mary’s Hospital in 2011 when she was very ill from the flu.

Countless letters and calls came from a debt collector after her visit to the emergency room. The St. Louis woman was confused about owing any money because she was uninsured and a doctor said she wouldn’t be billed.