Arkansas saw 34 new behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing 1% of the national weekly total. This modest influx suggests a steady, rather than surging, growth in the state's behavioral health workforce, indicating a consistent but not rapid expansion of services.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis sector, the data shows 0 new Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and 4 new Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). The absence of new BCBAs is a critical indicator, as BCBAs are essential for supervising RBTs and providing clinical oversight for ABA services. Without new BCBAs, the capacity for RBTs to deliver supervised ABA therapy is severely constrained. Beyond ABA-specific credentials, the state also added 3 Qualified Behavioral Health Professionals (QBHPs) and 3 Licensed Associate Counselors (LACs), contributing to the broader behavioral health landscape.
Provider Demographics
Of the 25 individual providers added, the workforce is predominantly female, with women accounting for 19 individuals or 76%. Male providers comprise 6 individuals, or 24%. There were 9 new organizations registered this week, but no specific organizations appeared multiple times in the data. The top cities for new providers include Fayetteville, Little Rock, and Bentonville, suggesting growth in urban and suburban areas.
The current data highlights a significant challenge for ABA service expansion in Arkansas due to the lack of new BCBA supervisors, potentially limiting access to quality ABA care despite the addition of RBTs.
