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Healthcare in Wyoming

Wyoming is the least populous state in the nation, and its healthcare system reflects the challenges of serving approximately 577,000 residents spread across nearly 98,000 square miles. With only about 1,300 active physicians and a per capita rate of 224 per 100,000, the state faces persistent workforce shortages across virtually every specialty. Wyoming is one of the few states without a medical school, relying on the WWAMI program with the University of Washington to train in-state students, though retaining graduates is an ongoing challenge. Casper and Cheyenne serve as the state's primary healthcare centers, with Wyoming Medical Center and Cheyenne Regional Medical Center providing the most comprehensive services available. Patients requiring complex specialty care frequently travel to Denver, Salt Lake City, or Billings, Montana. Critical access hospitals are essential healthcare infrastructure in small Wyoming communities, and the state has one of the highest proportions of critical access hospitals nationally. The energy industry, including oil, gas, and coal, creates occupational health demands. Wyoming has not expanded Medicaid, though the state has among the lowest uninsured rates in the Mountain West due to relatively high incomes. Telehealth is vital for connecting rural residents with specialists, and the state has invested in broadband infrastructure to support virtual care. Jackson Hole's affluent community supports healthcare resources that exceed what population alone would predict.