Trade Schools
If you live in Montana and you want to start a career in the healthcare field in less than one year, the medical biller and coder profession is worth exploring.
As a worker in this profession, your main role will be to help healthcare facilities manage insurance claims, invoices, and payments.
In order to do this, you must know how to take the provider’s diagnostic and procedural notes and convert them into the correct codes for record and billing purposes.
Once the coding is completed, billing specialists generate invoices and send the claims to insurance providers.
Insurance companies accept or deny the claims depending on the codes.
The remaining amount is then sent to the patient for payment.
Medical billers and coders are a liaison between insurers, medical offices, and patients.
They handle confidential information and abide by HIPAA laws and other medical policies.
Medical billing and coding skills can be learned by enrolling in a post-secondary program at a community college or trade school.
To help you choose the program that best meets your needs, on this page, we will compile information about the best medical billing and coding programs near you.
Programs can be completed at Montana schools and community colleges or online, at institutions located in other states.
1Montana State University Billings
Montana State University Billings offers learning opportunities and services to prepare students for a variety of career choices.
Courses Offered
The university provides a Medical Coding and Insurance Billing program that prepares students for careers in the growing healthcare industry.
Two options are available:
- Certificate of Applied Science in Medical Coding
- Associate of Applied Science in Medical Coding & Insurance Billing Specialist
The program prepares students with the necessary prerequisites to start or enhance their journey as professional medical coders.
The core medical coding classes are offered in partnership with the American Academy of Professional Coders- which means that students receive the same education and training as those who receive training directly through the AAPC.
The curriculum includes courses such as:
- Basic Human Biology
- Introduction to Computers
- Medical Terminology
- Beginning Procedural Coding
- Medical Office Procedures
- Advanced Medical Coding
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 1500 University Drive, Billings, MT 59101
- Phone: 406.657.2011
- Website: https://www.msubillings.edu
2University of Montana
About the School
The University of Montana offers a variety of courses, degrees, minors, and majors designed to help students fulfill their academic and professional goals.
The university is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.
Courses Offered
The university offers a Medical Information Technology Associate in Applied Science degree program with a Health Information Coding Specialty.
Students are trained to:
- Understand the anatomy, medical terminology, and disease processes necessary to determine correct codes and sequence
- Analyze health records
- Accurately abstract and code procedures and diagnoses
- Communicate with physicians, healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and patients to ensure accurate and timely reimbursement
Graduates are eligible to sit for AHIMA Certified Coding Associate and Certified Coding Specialist or AAPC Certified Professional Coder certification exams.
Contact Information
- Address: 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT 59812
- Phone: 406-243-0211
- Website: https://www.umt.edu
3Flathead Valley Community College
About the School
Flathead Valley Community College offers a variety of programs and transfer tracks.
The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Medical Coding, Associate in Applied Science program.
After completing the program, students are eligible to:
- Demonstrate professional work habits in the medical coding profession
- Apply medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and disease process knowledge to seek the appropriate code
- Complete insurance forms using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS codes
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate orally and in writing
- Abstract code data from medical records
- Demonstrate leadership skills
The curriculum includes courses on:
- Health Care Delivery
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Law and Ethics
- Basic Medical Coding
- Professional Business Communication
- Medical Billing Fundamentals
- Computerized Medical Billing
- And more
The program includes 64 credits in total.
Contact Information
- Address: 777 Grandview Drive, Kalispell, MT 59901
- Phone: (406) 756-3822 | (800) 313-3822
- Website: https://www.fvcc.edu
4Gallatin College
About the School
Gallatin College offers academic programs that can be completed in one or two years, lead to a certificate or degree, and prepare students for careers.
The college complements the four-year programs at Montana State University and ensures access to workforce development.
Gallatin College has five campuses: the main campus, the North campus, the East campus, the Frontage campus, and the Aviation program.
Tuition and fees sum up to $256.23 per credit for residents.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Health Information Coding program that leads to a Certificate of Applied Science- Health Information Coding.
The program prepares students with the skills needed for entry-level jobs in medical settings.
Students learn how to function as members of a healthcare team, abstract information from documentation, assign appropriate medical codes, and create claims to be paid.
Contact Information
- Address: 101 Hamilton Hall, PO Box 170515, Bozeman, MT 59717
- Phone: 406-994-5536
- Website: https://gallatin.montana.edu
5Mt. Hood Community College
About the School
Mt. Hood Community College offers a variety of degree and transfer options, as well as career technical education programs.
The college has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs since 1978.
Courses Offered
The college provides a Medical Office: Billing and Coding program that prepares students for work in hospitals, insurance companies, doctor’s offices, medical clinics, and other healthcare settings.
Students learn how to read and analyze patient records, determine the correct codes for patient records, use codes for billing purposes, adhere to current healthcare industry regulations and policies, and more.
The program can now be completed fully online.
The Medical Office: Billing and Coding curriculum includes topics such as:
- Medical Terminology
- Medical Office Procedures
- Healthcare Documentation
- Patient Advocate for Medical Insurance
- Building a Professional Portfolio
- Medical Coding I: ICD-10-CM
- Medical Coding II: Procedural Coding
- Medical Coding III: Evaluation and Management
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 26000 SE Stark Street, Gresham, Oregon 97030
- Phone: 503-491-6422
- Website: https://www.mhcc.edu
6MCHC
About the School
MCHC offers a variety of healthcare training solutions that are available online.
Courses Offered
The following programs are available at the school:
- CPC Online Class- a course that costs $799
- Risk Adjustment Online Training- a $599.99 course
- Auditing Training and Certification- a course that costs $998
- Online Auditing Training- a course that costs $799
In addition to affordable certification training, MCHC offers medical chart auditing and consulting services.
The Online CPC training- Medical Coding program provides up to six months of access during which time students can complete the coursework at their own pace.
Students learn through a variety of methods, including:
- Online mentor access
- On-demand lectures and resource videos
- Games and activities
- Timed quizzes and exams
- Test-taking tips
- Practice exam
Contact Information
- Phone: 855-226-3348
- Website: https://www.coderclass.net
7University of Arizona
About the School
Another online medical billing and coding program is available at the University of Arizona.
The university helps students get the training and skills they need in order to achieve their career goals.
Among many other programs, the university’s catalog includes an online Medical Billing and Coding Career Prep program.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding Career Prep curriculum equips students with hands-on, practical experience working with the main coding manuals in the field: the ICD-10-CM and the CPT.
Students enrolled in this program also learn the legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts central to this field.
Graduates are prepared to take the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist national certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
The program includes more than 600 hours of self-paced online training.
The curriculum covers all necessary course materials, including medical billing and coding textbooks/manuals.
Students take courses such as:
- The Role of the Insurance Billing Specialist
- The Basics of Health Insurance
- Medicare, Medicaid, and other State Programs
- Workers Compensation
- Disability Income Insurance & Disability Benefit Program
- Reimbursement, HIPAA, and Compliance
- And more
This program costs $3,267.
Contact Information
- Address: Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Phone: (520) 626-5091
- Website: https://ce.arizona.edu
8Penn Foster
About the School
Penn Foster offers online training programs that prepare students for in-demand jobs.
Recognized certificates, diplomas, and degree programs are available at the school.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding program at Penn Foster helps students prepare for the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
The program leads to a Diploma.
The program is available online and offers students the option to finish training at their own pace.
The curriculum can be completed in 11 months and helps students gain the training needed to pursue a career in this field by taking courses such as:
- Medical Office Procedures
- Body Systems and Medical Terminology
- Electronic Medical Records
- Basic Medical Coding
- Intermediate Medical Coding
Contact Information
- Address: 14300 N Northsight Blvd., Suite 125, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
- Phone: 800-471-3232
- Website: https://www.pennfoster.edu
9UEI College
About the School
UEI College provides a Medical Billing and Insurance Coding program that combines online class lectures, on-campus labs, and hands-on training at a local employer during an externship.
Students learn about topics such as billing systems, medical law and ethics, diagnostic coding, and general office procedures.
Then, they venture into the real world for on-the-job training during a 250-hour externship in a medical and/or claims office.
The program can be completed in 10 months.
Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
UEI College in Riverside is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training.
The program is available in hybrid and fully online formats.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Insurance Coding curriculum includes courses such as:
- Insurance Billing
- Insurance Coding Principles
- Medical Law & Ethics
- Documentation & Records
- Insurance Practices
- Medical Office Procedures
- Dental Office Procedures
- And more
Contact Information
- Address: 971 N Hairston Rd, Stone Mountain, GA 30083
- Phone: (877) 463-4472
- Website: https://www.uei.edu
10BYU Pathway Worldwide
About the School
BYU Pathway Worldwide was created to serve online students.
The degrees are awarded by BYU-Idaho and Ensign College.
Certificate programs are also available.
The degrees can be accessed online, from anywhere in the world.
Certificates can be completed in one year or less leading to immediate job improvement.
Tuition is $139 per credit for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Other students pay $25 more.
Courses Offered
The Medical Billing and Coding Fundamentals program provided by BYU Pathway Worldwide prepares students for employment in medical clinic coding/billing departments and facilities.
Students learn how to analyze medical records, assign accurate medical codes, and billing and reimbursement practices.
The certificate is offered by Ensign College with support and resources from BYU Pathway Worldwide.
The program requirements include courses on:
- Intro to Medical Billing & Coding
- Body Systems
- Medical Coding
- Career Success
Contact Information
- Address: 3 Triad Center, Suite 500 1125, Salt Lake City, UT 84180
- Website: https://www.byupathway.org
Regional Salary in Montana
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 210 | $48,880 | $23.5 | $58,320 | $37,660 |
| Great Falls, MT | 70 | $47,890 | $23.02 | $58,150 | $35,860 |
| Missoula, MT | 110 | $47,180 | $22.68 | $57,960 | $33,260 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
If you want to start a career as a medical billing and coding specialist the first step is to complete a training program at a trade school or community college.
The courses will teach you the skills to connect healthcare providers, patients, and insurance companies by converting medical notes into codes for billing and record purposes.
Now that you have read our selection of the best medical billing and coding schools in Montana the next step is to choose the program that best meets your needs and submit your application.
