Arkansas saw 74 new behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing 2% of the national weekly total. All 74 providers are new this week and this year, signaling a fresh influx into the state's behavioral health landscape. This expansion includes 67 individual providers and 7 organizations, reflecting a growing demand for services across Arkansas.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis field, the update identifies 1 Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and 37 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). Notably, there are no individuals with dual BCBA and RBT credentials in this dataset. This significant 37-to-1 ratio of RBTs to BCBAs indicates a critical bottleneck in supervision capacity, which is essential for scaling direct ABA services. Beyond ABA, the update also includes 5 Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP), 2 Qualified Behavioral Health Professionals (QBHP), and 1 Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC), among other roles.
Provider Demographics
The individual provider workforce in Arkansas is predominantly female, with 61 individuals identifying as female, accounting for 91% of the total. Male providers number 3 (4%), and 3 individuals (4%) identify as nonbinary. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data. New providers are distributed across cities such as Paragould, Springdale, Jonesboro, Bentonville, and Fort Smith.
The high ratio of RBTs to BCBAs suggests that while the state is adding direct service providers, a substantial increase in supervisory BCBAs is needed to ensure adequate clinical oversight and expand access to quality ABA therapy.
