Arkansas's behavioral health sector saw 60 total providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing a 1% share of the national weekly total. This modest contribution suggests a smaller, but actively growing, market for behavioral health services. Notably, 35 providers were new this week, contributing significantly to the 38 new providers recorded this year, indicating recent growth.
Credential Mix and Supervision Capacity
Within this cohort, the ABA workforce shows a significant imbalance. The data identifies only 2 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and 22 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) by primary taxonomy or credential. It is important to note that these counts reflect the primary designation, and no providers in this update held dual BCBA and RBT credentials. This low ratio of BCBAs to RBTs points to potential challenges in supervision capacity, which is critical for RBTs to deliver services. Additionally, 5 Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) and other mental health professionals like LCSWs and LMSWs were also added, diversifying the state's behavioral health landscape.
Workforce Demographics and Organizational Presence
Among the 48 individual providers, the workforce is overwhelmingly female, comprising 92% of the total. Male providers account for 8%. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this update, though 12 organizations were added. The geographic distribution shows activity across cities like Bentonville, Fort Smith, and Conway. This data suggests that while Arkansas is seeing new behavioral health professionals, the severe shortage of BCBAs relative to RBTs could pose a significant hurdle for expanding supervised ABA services and improving access for individuals needing intensive behavioral support.
