Chicago's behavioral health sector saw 49 providers registered in the latest CMS update, representing 1% of the national weekly total. This week alone, 22 providers were newly added, contributing to a total of 26 new registrations this year, indicating consistent growth in the area. The current roster includes 32 individual practitioners and 17 organizations.
ABA Credential Mix
The data shows an equal number of 3 BCBAs and 3 RBTs. This 1:1 ratio is atypical for the ABA industry, where RBTs usually outnumber BCBAs significantly, suggesting that many RBTs in Chicago may not be NPI-registered or that the data reflects a specific segment of the workforce. There are no providers holding both BCBA and RBT credentials. Beyond ABA-specific roles, the region also includes 6 LCSWs, 1 LCPC, NCC, and 2 Speech-Language Pathologists, indicating a broader scope of behavioral health services.
Workforce Demographics
Among individual practitioners, the workforce is predominantly female, with 25 female providers making up 78% of the total. Male providers number 6, or 19%, with 1 nonbinary provider also registered, accounting for 3%. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's update.
The unique 1:1 BCBA to RBT ratio in this dataset suggests a potential underrepresentation of NPI-registered RBTs, or a strong supervisory foundation for the registered ABA workforce in Chicago.
