Medical billing and coding career has become a very lucrative career in recent years.
Healthcare is always expanding, and because medical billing and coding can be remote jobs, they have become more popular since the coronavirus pandemic.
Having a full career from home has become more commonplace, and the medical billing and coding industry has soared with new employees around the world.
Medical coding is one part of this job.
Coding includes taking someone’s medical record and removing the billable information to use for billing.
Medical billing then uses that extracted information and translates it into a bill that needs to be paid.
Medical billing and coding can be very complicated because it takes many factors into consideration, including services, fees, insurance, and more.
Part of medical billing also involves creating insurance claims.
This is the backbone of the healthcare industry and helps create revenue for the healthcare system.
Page Navigation
- The Top 5 Medical Billing and Coding Schools in Colorado
- Salary Expectations for Medical Billing and Coding Professionals in Colorado
- Sources
- Schools by City
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need to have a license to practice medical billing and coding in Colorado?
- What tests do I need to pass to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Colorado?
- What requirements do I need to have to become a medical billing and coding specialist?
- Are there any continuing education classes I need to keep my medical billing and coding status?
- Are there any fees that I will need to pay to be a medical billing and coding professional in Colorado?
The Top 5 Medical Billing and Coding Schools in Colorado
Out of several medical billing and coding programs in Colorado, these are the top five.
University of Colorado
The University of Colorado offers a short Medical Coding class that can certify you to get your foot in the door when it comes to medical billing and coding.
The class is 24-course hours.
For only $135, you can have either instructor-led teaching or self-paced teaching that will guide you through the curriculum.
If you choose the self-paced route, you will have three months of access to the materials.
If you choose instructor-led, you will have six weeks of access to the materials.
Colorado Mountain College
Colorado Mountain College offers a certificate in Medical Billing and Coding.
In these classes, you will go over billing regulations and procedures, medical coding procedures and regulations, compliance, and reimbursement.
ll of these courses and more are offered online, so you can access them anywhere and at any time.
Tuition is around $5,800 for in-state applicants and $14,400 for out-of-state applicants.
Community College of Aurora
The Community College of Aurora offers a Medical Billing and Coding career prep course that is one year long.
You can complete this course from anywhere, and you will have access to the materials for twelve months.
The cost of this program is $2,995 and it consists of 630 hours of materials.
The program itself is self-paced and online, so you can complete the program remotely.
Red Rocks Community College
Red Rocks Community College offers a certificate program for Medical Billing and Coding that will be a part of the associate’s program.
When you finish this program, you will have an associate’s degree in applied sciences.
This program takes about two years to complete and consists of 18 credits.
Tuition is about $2,800 for residents of Colorado and $11,400 for non-residents.
Front Range Community College
At Front Range Community College, the medical billing and coding program is known as the health information technology degree.
This specific degree will certify you to work in all parts of health information technology, including insurance claims, billing, coding, patient information, and so much more.
This program is 64 credit hours taken over four semesters.
There is also a medical coding certificate available.
This program is 29 credits taken over two semesters.
Tuition is around $247 for in-state applicants and $357 for out-of-state applicants.
Billing and Coding Schools in Colorado – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Colorado
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| University of Colorado | Boulder, CO 80309 |
| Colorado Mountain College | 802 Grand Ave, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 |
| Community College of Aurora | 16000 E. CentreTech Pkwy Aurora, CO 80011, CO 80230 |
| Red Rocks Community College | 13300 W 6th Ave Frontage Rd, Lakewood, CO 80228 |
| Front Range Community College | 3645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, CO 80031 |
Salary Expectations for Medical Billing and Coding Professionals in Colorado
In the state of Colorado, an entry-level medical billing and coding employee can expect to make about $35,000.
As you move up the ladder in your medical billing and coding career, you can expect to make a little bit more money.
The median salary for this profession is around $63,000, and the top-earning individuals can make up to $75,000.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Biller and Coders in Colorado
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Denver | $41,500 |
| Colorado Springs | $40,800 |
| Aurora | $41,500 |
| Antonito | $38,200 |
| Fort Collins | $39,900 |
| Arvada | $41,500 |
| Pueblo | $38,000 |
| Westminster | $41,500 |
| Boulder | $42,000 |
| Thornton | $41,500 |
Regional Salary in Colorado
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | ** | $45,120 | $21.69 | $58,750 | $34,110 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 390 | $50,850 | $24.45 | $65,730 | $32,470 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 1,070 | $58,020 | $27.89 | $80,490 | $38,440 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 100 | $49,740 | $23.91 | $67,660 | $33,090 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 80 | $46,990 | $22.59 | $63,840 | $33,380 |
| Greeley, CO | 30 | $47,540 | $22.86 | $62,100 | $34,690 |
| Pueblo, CO | 80 | $49,370 | $23.74 | $60,560 | $37,250 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Sources
- https://www.ccaurora.edu/business-community/medical-caregiving-and-education#section-3
- https://www.rrcc.edu/medical-billing-coding
- https://www.frontrange.edu/programs-and-courses/a-z-program-list/health-information-technology
- https://www.aapc.com/training/medical-coding-classes/colorado/#dvClassroom
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have a license to practice medical billing and coding in Colorado?
You do not need to have a license to practice medical billing and coding.
However, if you have a certificate, you can increase your salary and your potential future opportunities.
What tests do I need to pass to become a medical billing and coding specialist in Colorado?
You do not need to pass tests to work in entry-level positions in medical billing and coding.
However, if you desire to move up in the industry, you will need to take an exam to get your Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certificate.
What requirements do I need to have to become a medical billing and coding specialist?
Although some education and training are ideal, you can also learn medical billing and coding on the job.
There are no requirements to work in entry-level positions.
Are there any continuing education classes I need to keep my medical billing and coding status?
You are not required to take continuing education.
However, if you choose to take courses in medical billing and coding, the above programs can help you prepare to pass the CPC exam.
Are there any fees that I will need to pay to be a medical billing and coding professional in Colorado?
There are no fees that you will need to pay to be a medical billing and coding professional.
However, there are fees associated with the CPC exam.
Those can be found on their website here.
