Colorado saw 96 new behavioral health providers added in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, representing 2% of the national total. This consistent influx of new professionals signals a steady expansion of the state's behavioral health workforce, crucial for meeting growing demand for services across the region.
ABA Workforce Dynamics
Within applied behavior analysis, the update includes 6 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and 28 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs). There were no providers listed with dual BCBA and RBT credentials this week. The ratio of RBTs to BCBAs, approximately 4.7 to 1, indicates a robust capacity for direct service delivery. However, this ratio also underscores the critical need for more BCBAs to provide the necessary supervision for RBTs, a common challenge in scaling ABA services.
Provider Demographics and Organizations
Of the 72 individual providers, the workforce is predominantly female, with 54 individuals (75%) identifying as female. Male providers account for 12 individuals (17%), while 6 individuals (8%) identify as nonbinary. On the organizational side, Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, Inc. appeared twice among the new organizational enrollments, indicating its ongoing expansion of services in the state.
This data suggests a continued focus on building the direct service workforce in Colorado, particularly within the ABA sector, which is vital for improving access to care for individuals needing behavioral health support.
