Online & Campus Medical Billing and Coding Programs in Montana: Find the School Right for You

If you want to work in healthcare, a medical billing and coding degree could be a great first step. Medical billing and coding programs often take less time to complete than other healthcare programs. There are also remote and hybrid positions within the field and significant demand for certified billers and coders, especially in Montana. Throw in that many of the medical billing programs are offered online, and this career path is a no-brainer.

While many online and hybrid programs exist, it can be hard to know which ones give the best certifications and develop the right skills. To help jumpstart your search, this guide features three of the best online medical billing programs in Montana. It also gives you the features found in a quality program, potential career paths after graduating, medical billing and coding salaries in Montana, and answers to the most frequently asked questions about medical billing and coding programs.

Montana’s Reputable Medical Billing & Coding Programs

When looking for the best online medical billing program in Montana, remember that “best” is subjective. The right program for you may not be an ideal choice for someone else. That said, some schools excel in specific, objective categories such as curriculum rigor, accreditation, and affordability. Three such programs are summarized below.

University of Montana

The University of Montana hosts one of the best online medical billing programs in Montana. In this 100% online program, students learn the foundations of healthcare, commonly used medical and insurance codes, and how the healthcare billing process works. The curriculum is split into two sections: medical terminology and medical coding. Specific class topics in the first category include introduction to medical terminology, the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, and pharmacology. The second category includes revenue cycle management, managed healthcare, and CPT coding. This program prepares students to sit for the certified coder exam from either the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Program costs vary, depending on residency and completion time. In-state students pay about $3,890, though discounts are sometimes offered, and the medical billing and coding program usually takes twelve months to complete.

Montana State University Billings – City College

Montana State University Billings offers a robust medical coding program that can be completed by someone entirely new to the healthcare field or by someone wanting to advance their healthcare career. With multiple program options, this program is one of the most flexible online medical billing programs in Montana. Program options include a Certificate of Applied Science in Medical Coding and an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding and Insurance Billing Specialist. Both prepare students for the AAPC Certified Professional Coder exam and are fully online. Required courses differ based on which program a student chooses, though class topics covered by both degrees include medical terminology, biology, diagnosis coding, and procedural coding. Montana State University Billings’ program is more expensive than the other spotlighted schools with an estimated program cost of $21,226, but the school does offer many student support resources and scholarships.

Charter College

Charter College hosts an online medical billing program in Montana that, technically, is available in multiple states. This fact speaks to the program’s robust online learning format. While some course components are delivered synchronously, many are asynchronous, and the program is designed with flexibility in mind to make it easy to balance coursework with professional or personal responsibilities. The curriculum covers insurance billing and coding, working with electronic health records systems, and legal/ethical issues in healthcare. There is also a course on the healthcare system as a whole, making this a great option for those new to the field. Plus, the degree is one of the fastest in the state and can be completed in as little as seven months. While the school outlines various financial aid opportunities on its website, the cost of this associate’s degree is not published.

Montana’s Salary & Career Outlook for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

On the career front, there is good news and more good news for those completing an online medical billing program in Montana. The good news is that medical billers are in demand, especially in Montana. While there’s an 8.5% growth rate in the U.S. as a whole, the industry is growing by 17.1% in Montana.

The other good news? Medical coders and billers in Montana are offered healthy salaries with annual wages ranging from $37,200 to $61,560. The 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile for different cities are represented in the chart below, though it’s important to note the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t provide data for “medical billers/coders.” Instead, these salaries and job growth rates are pulled from the category that most closely matches medical billing and coding: medical records specialists.

Another perk of medical billing and coding is that programs are more affordable than other healthcare programs, and scholarships are available. Making $46,830 per year, for example, goes much further without student loan payments. Plus, many programs also provide networking events and other opportunities to help you connect with employers in your area and allow you to explore the best career options and corresponding salaries before graduating.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023

Source: Projections Central, 2020-2030

Careers for the Medical Billing and Coding-Certified

Billing Analyst

In medical billing and coding programs, you take classes in both billing and coding. Those who thrived in the billing classes should consider becoming a billing analyst after graduating. Medical billers keep track of a healthcare practice’s financials, file for reimbursement with health insurance companies, and issue any copayments or bills for elective procedures to patients. Billing analysts specifically tend to look at billing trends and discover ways to make billing processes faster. They may also follow up on unpaid bills, track insurance reimbursements as they come in, track Medicare payments, and ensure a practice or hospital meets government billing regulations.

Coding Auditor

Those who enjoyed the coding portion of their classes may want to become a coding auditor. These individuals focus on entering different medical codes into electronic health records systems and other administrative technologies at a healthcare practice or hospital. Because their job is heavily focused on documentation, precision and attention to detail are two must-have traits for coding auditors. Along with entering medical codes, many double-check the work of colleagues. As they progress in their careers, they may also take on a more strategic role of brainstorming ways to make medical coding more efficient and cost-effective.

Medical Record Coordinator

If you’re a big-picture thinker who likes to coordinate many medical administrative projects, you may want to consider medical record coordinator roles. A medical record coordinator manages the many moving pieces of healthcare administration, including both coding and billing. Those in this role should be familiar with both and understand how medical coding impacts billing and vice versa. Medical record coordinators should also be good communicators and be able to stay on task and keep others on task too. Medical record coordinator roles can also be more social than working specifically with billing or coding, making this a great option for more extraverted individuals or those who don’t mind sitting in meetings or having collaboration play a key part in their day-to-day life.

Reimbursement Specialist

The healthcare billing cycle is different from financial processes in other industries because many bills are paid fully or partially by health insurance companies. These companies have very specific reimbursement processes, as do government healthcare payers like Medicare and Medicaid. A reimbursement specialist helps a private practice navigate these policies and ensure they get paid by insurance companies as fast as possible. An advantage of this career, as well as the three listed above, is that most of the work can be done on a computer, meaning remote roles are more common for these allied health careers.

Your Questions, Answered

How do I know if a medical billing and coding program is accredited?

When looking at medical billing and coding programs, it’s important to check that the school and program are accredited. University accreditation is provided by national or regional accrediting boards. The University of Montana, for example, is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). After you’ve checked schoolwide accreditation, look at the individual program’s accreditation. Unlike nursing, programmatic accreditation is not a must-have for medical coding programs, though it can help your degree stand out on job applications. Common accrediting bodies that certify medical billing and coding programs include the National Healthcare Association (NHA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).

How much do medical billing and coding programs in Montana cost?

The cost of medical billing programs varies widely in Montana. The range for the schools spotlighted in this guide is $3,890 to $21,226 (total cost). Often, online programs are more cost-effective than in-person ones. Even if an online degree has the same tuition cost as an in-person counterpart, online students save on student fees and transportation costs. For even more savings, you can look into financial aid opportunities like student loans, scholarships, and grants. There are even some scholarships and financial aid options specifically for medical billing and coding students. State-specific scholarships exist as well, such as the Medical Education Scholarship from the Montana Medical Association.

How long does a medical billing and coding program take?

The length of medical billing and coding programs ranges from six months to two years. For the three programs spotlighted above, students usually take seven months to complete Charter College’s program, one year for MSU Billings’ program, and one to two years at the University of Montana. When considering the length of your program, keep in mind that longer programs often result in an associate’s degree and medical billing certificate while shorter degrees only provide the latter. Also want to factor the time it takes to find programs to apply to and complete applications into your timeline since the admissions process can add an extra three to six months onto your education journey.

Is medical billing and coding a good career?

Medical billing and coding is an in-demand career with options to work remotely and be promoted into leadership roles. It’s also a healthcare career with a low barrier to entry since it takes about one year to complete a medical billing program as opposed to four years to get a Bachelor of Science in nursing or healthcare administration. Plus, medical billers and coders don’t have clinical duties, making it a great healthcare career for those who don’t like blood.