Montana / Health information management programs

Best CAHIIM-accredited health information management programs in Montana, ranked (2026)

Montana has 1 CAHIIM-accredited HIM program, at the associate level. We score every program on our seven-factor methodology. The single Great Falls College MSU AAS scores 86/100.

Taylor Rupe, founder of healthinformationmanagementprograms.com

by , founder & editor

updated

Montana
1

Programs ranked

86

Top score

$50K

MT median HIM wage

820

HIM jobs in MT

Key Takeaways

  • Great Falls College Montana State University AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Montana. Great Falls. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Scores 86/100 on our seven-factor methodology.
  • Program director Dr. Tina Gambhir holds EdD + MJ + RHIA, a credential blend covering education leadership, jurisprudence (Master of Jurisprudence = legal training, useful for HIPAA / records-law work), and HIM. The MJ is unusual at the AAS-director level and signals a legally-rigorous curriculum.
  • No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in Montana. MT students who want the RHIA credential or MS in HIM ladder via online out-of-state programs (Weber State in Ogden UT is the closest mature BSHIM; WGU in Salt Lake is competency-based fully online).
  • Median HIM salary in Montana is 50,190 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct 64,540. 820 working in this occupation (one of the smaller HIM employment bases by absolute headcount).
  • Billings Clinic is Montana's largest system (integrated multi-specialty, Billings), with statewide reach across eastern MT and into WY.
  • Logan Health (Kalispell) rebranded from Kalispell Regional Healthcare in 2021. The dominant system in northwest Montana and the Flathead Valley.
  • Benefis Health System (Great Falls) is the local anchor for the program region: the largest non-metro health system in north-central Montana. Co-located with GFCMSU.
  • Big Sky Care Connect is Montana's statewide HIE, launched in 2020 to consolidate earlier MT HIE efforts and provide clinical messaging across participating MT providers.

How we ranked

Our ranking methodology in one paragraph.

Every program is CAHIIM-accredited. We score each one 0-10 on seven factors: CAHIIM accreditation maturity (25%), program director credentials (15%), degree-level pathways (15%), delivery flexibility (15%), employer pipeline (15%), cost-effectiveness (10%), institutional reputation (5%).

Read the full methodology →

Programs taking applications in Montana now

HIM, health informatics, and medical coding programs currently accepting students.

The CAHIIM program in Montana

The single CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Montana.

RankInstitutionDegreeCityScoreCAHIIM
#1 Great Falls College Montana State University AAS Great Falls 86/100 Continuing
#1
86/100

Overall score

Great Falls College Montana State University

Best (only) in-state AAS (EdD + MJ + RHIA director, Benefis + Billings Clinic + Logan pipeline)

AAS Great Falls, MT Online CAHIIM Continuing Next Review 2029-2030

Why it ranks #1

Great Falls College Montana State University AAS in Great Falls, Montana. The only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Montana at any level. Continuing CAHIIM, next review 2029-2030. Fully online. Program director Dr. Tina Gambhir holds EdD + MJ + RHIA, a credential blend covering education leadership, jurisprudence (legal training relevant for HIPAA / records-law work), and HIM. Great Falls College is the local two-year college within the Montana State University system. Strong reach into Benefis Health System (Great Falls, the local anchor), Billings Clinic (the largest MT system), Logan Health (Kalispell), and Providence St. Patrick Hospital (Missoula).

Program Director

Tina Gambhir , Ed.D, M.J., RHIA

Address

2100 16th Avenue South, Great Falls, MT, 59405

Contact

(406) 771-4300
tina.gambhir@gfcmsu.edu

Score breakdown

Accreditation (25%)10/10
Director credentials (15%)10/10
Pathways (15%)4/10
Delivery (15%)10/10
Employer pipeline (15%)8/10
Cost (10%)10/10
Reputation (5%)6/10
Overall86/100

Visit program at gfcmsu.edu → · CAHIIM directory listing

Best for…

Best Montana HIM pathways by category.

Best (only) in-state AAS

Great Falls College Montana State University

Great Falls. Continuing CAHIIM. Fully online. EdD + MJ + RHIA director.

Best legally-rigorous AAS curriculum

GFCMSU (MJ director)

Director Dr. Tina Gambhir's Master of Jurisprudence is unusual at the AAS-director level and signals a curriculum with deeper HIPAA, records-release, and health-law content than average.

Best Benefis pipeline

GFCMSU AAS

Great Falls College and Benefis Health System are co-located in Great Falls; the program is the natural feeder into Benefis HIM, ROI, and coding teams.

Best Billings Clinic pipeline

GFCMSU AAS

Billings Clinic is Montana's largest system. Fully-online delivery from GFCMSU lets eastern MT students attend without relocating to Great Falls.

Best Logan Health / Flathead Valley pipeline

GFCMSU AAS

Logan Health (Kalispell) is northwest MT's anchor. GFCMSU's online program reaches the Flathead Valley without a campus there.

Cheapest CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in MT

GFCMSU (by default)

Part of the Montana State University system with MUS resident community-college tuition. Pell-eligible.

If you want a BSHIM in MT

No CAHIIM BSHIM in Montana

Online options accepting MT students: Weber State (Ogden UT, the closest mature BSHIM), WGU (Salt Lake, competency-based, fully online), Davenport (Grand Rapids MI), Rutgers (Piscataway NJ).

If you want an MS in HIM in MT

No CAHIIM MS in Montana

Online options accepting MT students: Dakota State (Madison SD), Davenport, Rutgers, SWOSU, USC Columbia, MUSC.

Credentials

HIM credentials and certifications in Montana (RHIT, RHIA, CCS).

Montana does not license HIM staff. The Montana Health Information Management Association (MtHIMA) is the state AHIMA component.

CredentialFull NameEducation RequiredTypical MT Role
RHITRegistered Health Information TechnicianCAHIIM AAS (GFCMSU in-state)Records, ROI, coder at Billings Clinic / Logan Health / Benefis / Bozeman Health / Providence Montana
RHIARegistered Health Information AdministratorCAHIIM BSHIM (no in-state, online out-of-state needed)HIM supervisor, privacy officer, compliance
CCSCertified Coding SpecialistRHIT/RHIA + coding experienceInpatient/outpatient coder, coding auditor

Salary data

Medical records specialist salary in Montana.

BLS OEWS May 2025 MT estimates for SOC 29-2072:

  • Median: $50,190 (national: $51,140)
  • Mean: $52,720
  • 10th pct: $40,460 · 90th pct: $64,540
  • Statewide employment: 820

MT's HIM wage distribution is compressed compared to national: the 10th pct is above the national 10th pct, but the 90th pct ($64,540) trails the national 90th pct by a meaningful margin. The state's small market and rural geography limit upside at the senior end. Billings, Missoula, and Kalispell anchor the upper end; rural Montana sits at the lower bound.

Salary distribution

Medical records specialist salary in Montana vs. national median (BLS OEWS May 2025).

$30K$40K$50K$60K$70K$80K$90K Montana MED $50K National MED $51K

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.

Workforce

Montana health information management job market and top hospital employers.

Billings Clinic. Billings. Montana's largest health system. Integrated multi-specialty group practice plus hospital, with statewide reach across eastern Montana, Wyoming, and the western Dakotas.

Logan Health. Kalispell. Rebranded from Kalispell Regional Healthcare in 2021. The dominant system in northwest Montana and the Flathead Valley. Logan Health Medical Center (Kalispell) is the flagship.

Bozeman Health. Bozeman. The largest system in southwest Montana, anchored by Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital.

Benefis Health System. Great Falls. The local anchor for the GFCMSU program region; the largest non-metro health system in north-central Montana.

Providence Montana. Missoula and Polson. Providence St. Patrick Hospital (Missoula) is the largest Catholic hospital in MT, with Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson.

Community Medical Center. Missoula. Independent community hospital, the second-largest in Missoula.

Intermountain Health St. Vincent. Billings. Former SCL Health hospital absorbed into Intermountain Health in the 2022 merger.

Rural critical access hospitals. Montana has the highest concentration of critical access hospitals per capita of any state. Many small MT communities have dedicated CAH employers offering HIM, coding, and registrar roles.

Health information exchange

Big Sky Care Connect (Montana's statewide HIE).

Big Sky Care Connect is Montana's statewide health information exchange, launched in 2020 to consolidate earlier MT HIE efforts (including HIE-MT). Big Sky Care Connect provides clinical messaging, longitudinal patient records, ADT notifications, and care coordination services across participating MT hospitals and physician practices. Participation is voluntary.

State regulation

Montana state laws affecting health information management.

  • Patient access (MCA 50-16-501 to 50-16-553, Montana Uniform Health Care Information Act). Montana's comprehensive patient records statute, granting patients access to medical records with statutory copying-fee caps.
  • Medical record retention (ARM 37.106.402). MT hospitals must retain adult medical records for at least 10 years from the date of last patient encounter; minor records: age of majority plus retention period.
  • Breach notification (MCA 30-14-1701 to 30-14-1736). Notice to affected MT residents without unreasonable delay; AG notification for breaches affecting MT residents.
  • Constitutional privacy right. The Montana Constitution (Article II, Section 10) includes an explicit right to privacy stronger than federal HIPAA in some applications; MT case law on health information privacy is more protective than the floor set by HIPAA.
  • No state HIM licensure. MT's licensing boards regulate clinical professions; HIM credentials are AHIMA-issued (RHIT, RHIA, CCS).

Sources

Sources and references.

  1. healthinformationmanagementprograms.com Methodology.
  2. CAHIIM Program Directory.
  3. BLS OEWS: May 2025 MT estimates.
  4. AHIMA Certification Exams.
  5. Big Sky Care Connect (Montana statewide HIE).
  6. Montana Code Annotated: MCA 50-16-501, MCA 30-14-1701, Montana Constitution Article II Section 10.
  7. Montana University System: GFCMSU institutional context and resident tuition.

FAQ

HIM programs in Montana: frequently asked questions.

What is the best CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Montana?

Great Falls College Montana State University AAS is the only CAHIIM-accredited HIM program in Montana, scoring 86/100 on our methodology.

How many CAHIIM-accredited HIM programs are in MT?

1 active, at the associate level. No CAHIIM BSHIM or MS in MT.

What is the average HIM salary in MT?

Median $50,190 per BLS OEWS May 2025. 90th pct $64,540.

Does MT require a license to work in HIM?

No. AHIMA credentials (RHIT, RHIA, CCS) are the standard.

Which Montana hospitals hire the most HIM staff?

Billings Clinic (largest in MT), Logan Health (Kalispell), Bozeman Health, Benefis Health System (Great Falls), Providence Montana (Missoula), Community Medical Center (Missoula), Intermountain Health St. Vincent (Billings), and many critical access hospitals.

What is Big Sky Care Connect?

Montana's statewide HIE, launched in 2020. Consolidated earlier HIE-MT efforts; provides clinical messaging across participating MT providers.

Can I get a HIM degree fully online in MT?

Yes for the GFCMSU AAS (fully online). For BSHIM or MS, MT students must take a CAHIIM program from out of state.

If I want a BSHIM after my GFCMSU AAS, what's the typical ladder?

Most common ladders: GFCMSU AAS into Weber State BSHIM (Ogden UT, the closest mature BSHIM), or WGU BSHIM (Salt Lake City, competency-based fully online). Davenport and Rutgers are also fully online and accept MT students.