Alaska added 11 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, contributing less than 1% to the national total of new registrations. The state saw a total of 24 providers in the update, comprising 22 individuals and 2 organizations. This modest number reflects Alaska's unique geographic challenges and smaller population in the broader healthcare workforce landscape.
ABA Workforce Dynamics
Within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data shows 7 RBT credentials. Notably, there is only 1 BCBA credential, and this individual also holds an RBT credential, indicating a dual-credentialed professional. This means there are 6 additional RBTs without a BCBA credential. The resulting ratio of 7 RBTs to 1 BCBA highlights a significant shortage of supervisory capacity, which is critical for delivering high-quality ABA services and expanding access across the state. Beyond ABA, the state also registered 1 LCSW and 2 LPCs, with one individual holding an MS, LPA, LPC credential.
Provider Demographics and Geographic Focus
The individual provider workforce in Alaska is predominantly female, with 21 (95%) providers identifying as female and 1 (5%) as male. No organizations were noted as appearing multiple times in this week's data. The new providers are primarily located in key population centers including Anchorage, Wasilla, Eagle River, Homer, and Fairbanks.
This data suggests that while Alaska is seeing some growth in its direct behavioral health workforce, the critical imbalance between RBTs and BCBA supervisors remains a significant barrier to improving ABA access and service delivery in the state.
