Top Medical Billing and Coding Programs in WY: Online & Campus
Popular online medical billing coding programs in Wyoming can kickstart a new career with flexible work-from-home opportunities. Begin your career journey today.
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As more industries and companies are requiring a return to in-person work, or are adopting lightly hybridized models, you may be wondering how to still embrace the flexibility and balance of fully remote work. Emerging research shows that workers are happier with a remote/work-from-home schedule, so seeking companies that lend themselves easily to remote work might be your next logical career step.
Medical billing and coding is one of these in-demand and highly portable fields. The job duties are consistent across the US, and it’s easier to maintain your personal responsibilities and home life. It’s also possible to complete an online medical billing program in Wyoming to seek these flexible remote positions nationwide.
If you want to change careers and you are someone who works independently and is detail-oriented, medical billing and coding might be a great fit for you, especially if you are looking for a new remote-based role. We’ve done the legwork to find the best online programs in Wyoming for medical billing and coding that offer flexibility, affordable costs, and tangible outcomes to jump-start your new career.
Popular Schools: An Inside Look at Medical Billing & Coding Programs in WY
In our program roundup, we prioritize ones that are actually based in Wyoming so you may glean the benefits of studying close to home and receive resident-tuition advantages that may be available to you. Even if you’re exclusively pursuing online programs and applying nationwide, we want to give you local options to add to your application list. Check out our picks for online medical billing and coding programs in Wyoming.
Western Wyoming Community College
If you are ready to start right away on your path towards becoming a medical biller and coder, look no further than Western Wyoming Community College’s online program. For a flat fee of $2,995 with financing options, this program covers all the necessary content in 370 course hours that you need to complete in 12 months.
You can begin immediately thanks to its open enrollment and self-paced learning structures, and the program includes a voucher to take the certification exam of your choice, between Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).
The curriculum takes a steady, measured approach to information acquisition, beginning with medical terminology and parts of the body, then moving through health insurance and legal matters. It culminates in courses that cover specific billing and coding expertise, with additional information on pharmaceuticals, Medicare/Medicaid, and procedures for private health insurance. This course has no prerequisites, although certification exams require a high school diploma or equivalent.
Casper College
For eager learners, Casper College’s online Medical Billing and Coding online training has open enrollment that allows you to start on the day on which you feel prepared, even if that means immediately. For the $2,995 fee, students will cover a comprehensive curriculum and prepare for their preferred certification exam.
The curriculum includes a thorough breakdown of the different body systems, including cardiovascular, endocrine and digestive, among many others. Then, it segues into specifics on health insurance, managed care, revenue cycle management, and specific coding types. It concludes with advice on how to find a job in medical billing and coding and details on certifications you can receive after completing the course.
Tuition includes a voucher for a certification exam, and students have 12 months to complete this 370 hour program. According to national salary survey results in 2023, certified medical billers and coders earn 15% more than peers who do not hold a certification.
AAPC
The American Academy of Professional Coders is the leading credentialing body for medical billing and coding and the standard of excellence for those in the healthcare business. It offers the CPC and Certified Professional Biller (CPB) designations, as well as a variety of certifications for specific medical areas, levels of care, practice management, or auditing.
Its online medical and billing course for Wyoming students provides content directly related to the certification exam, and its program offers frequent start dates to begin when you’re feeling prepared. The AAPC also doesn’t require any prerequisites that might slow your momentum.
AAPC’s nationwide offerings include a self-paced course for $2,390 and a deluxe version that includes additional content, practice tests, and exam vouchers for $2,849. There is also a synchronous, instructor-led 16-week option with additional content and exam vouchers for $3,549.
Salary & Career Overview for Wyoming’s Medical Billing and Coding Students
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the nationwide data center for employment information, including salary figures and projected job growth. Yet, because it uses limited specific jobs to track, it does not have data for “medical billers and coders,” so the statistics below are for “medical records specialists.” However, this data is consistent with salary surveys completed by AAPC for Wyoming, so these tables still give you a sense of your expected salary after completing a program and earning a certification in medical billing and coding.
When you’re considering taking the plunge to advance your education, you want to make sure you have a strong potential return on your investment. This guide on medical billing and coding salary can provide some additional insight as you weigh your options. While the data below is related to jobs in Wyoming, where salaries keep pace with the national average, the prevalence of nationwide remote work may allow you to reside in Wyoming and seek out a top-tier competitive salary elsewhere to maximize your earnings.
Job growth in medical billing and coding is promising between now and 2030, with an anticipated 13.5% growth in Wyoming and an average of 15,000 jobs available nationwide for qualified candidates.
| Area | 10th Percentile | Median | 90th Percentile |
| U.S. | $35,080 | $48,780 | $77,810 |
| Wyoming | $37,300 | $51,360 | $75,590 |
| Casper | $35,360 | $44,800 | $75,360 |
| Cheyenne | $39,730 | $53,290 | $77,490 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2023
| Area | Current Jobs | Projected Jobs | New Jobs | Job Growth | Avg. Annual Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 194,300 | 210,900 | 16,600 | 8.5% | 15,000 |
| Wyoming | 370 | 420 | 50 | 13.5% | 30 |
Source: Projections Central, 2020-2030
Careers for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists in Wyoming
Billing Analyst
A billing analyst’s primary responsibility is to prepare and issue invoices to insurance carriers or patients for medical services that the patient received. It’s a key role because practice and hospital operations rely heavily on reimbursement to maintain the revenue cycle of the organization or enterprise.
Charged with “keeping the lights on,” billing analysts are familiar with the nuances of insurance requirements and optimizing reimbursement for the work of their dedicated team of healthcare providers. The certification that complements this role is Certified Professional Biller.
Coding Auditor
For a person pursuing an online medical billing and coding program in Wyoming who loves meticulous, precision-based work, medical auditing would be your exact niche. These individuals demonstrate deep integrity by looking closely at medical records to ensure claims were coded accurately, correctly, and factually. Medical practices and organizations are focused on eliminating financial waste or loss of revenue due to non-compliant documentation.
The Certified Professional Medical Auditor certification assures that professionals know how to enhance good medical documentation, reduce fraud and abuse, and engage in quality assurance and risk analysis.
Medical Record Coordinator
Medical records take up a huge amount of data, and medical record coordinators ensure the necessary components of a patient’s chart and records are thorough, complete, and correctly archived for future audits or institutional reviews. The Certified Documentation Expert Outpatient or Certified Documentation Expert Inpatient credentials ensure you are prepared to review documentation for accuracy, quality, and meeting clinical requirements.
A medical record coordinator is responsible for the flow of information between patients and their healthcare providers, ensuring that the documentation is organized and accurate and complies with HIPAA standards.
Reimbursement Specialist
Even when medical practices and staff follow policies and procedures, there can be disruptions in the revenue cycle that can hinder practice operations and adequate staffing, ultimately affecting patient care. That’s where reimbursement specialists come in, especially those who have earned the Certified Revenue Cycle Management Specialist certification. They look at the flow of billing from start to finish to identify disruptions and increase the financial stability of a practice or organization.
This mid-level position is excellent for someone who may have previous experience with billing and is interested in taking on a more managerial role in practice operations.
Your Questions, Answered
What does medical billing and coding training in Wyoming include?
You can expect your program to include core information about medical terminology, health insurance and state-funded payers such as Medicare and Medicaid. There’s also training around procedure codes and pharmacology, as well as legal and ethical matters. This content should follow a structured curriculum that builds on knowledge leading towards exam preparation and readiness. Your course should be clear about its format and instruction style, whether it is self-led or has a course instructor, and its timeline for completion.
Generally, self-led courses give you access to the content for 12 months, and instructor-led courses have a curriculum divided into a number of weeks or months. The courses typically include necessary materials and a clear pathway to taking a certification exam once you complete the program.
What is the cost of a medical billing and coding program?
Depending on the program, you can expect to spend between $2,400-$3,500 as a flat fee for your studies. More expensive programs tend to include synchronous learning components, and most programs include practice tests or vouchers as part of the tuition, so you may be able to take these tests once or twice.
Some programs even include a period of professional organization membership and database software subscription, both of which can be helpful in launching your career. Many programs utilize budgeting partners such as Climb or Affirm so you can make more affordable payments over the course of your studies. Check out our guide on medical billing and coding programs that offer some form of financial aid.
How do I know if a medical billing and coding program is accredited?
Since there is no educational requirement for professional certifications in medical billing and coding and the programs are not degree-granting, accreditation is not standard in this area. However, you want to ensure that the program you select will have relevant content to help you progress towards your desired career and certification.
Check to see if your prospective program mentions instruction geared towards specific credentialing exams through nationally recognized bodies like the AAPC, American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), or National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You can also ask prospective programs about their average first-time exam pass rate to see how their graduates fare on certification exams.
Which is the best medical billing and coding program?
The best medical billing and coding program you can complete is the one that leaves you energized towards beginning your new career. Taking care of your mental health while you’re enrolled in a program and balancing other responsibilities is crucial, as well as selecting a format that works for you.
If you know that you will do best with synchronous learning and a designated time for course content, select a program with that feature. If you are fitting in coursework around an unconventional schedule, then a self-paced course will give you the flexibility to learn on-the-go or in fits and starts — whatever works best for you.
