Hawaii's behavioral health sector added 28 providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing less than 1% of the national weekly total. The state saw a significant recent surge, with 17 new providers joining this week, making up most of the 19 new providers this year. This cohort consists of 25 individuals and 3 organizations, signaling a concentrated burst of workforce growth.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the ABA field, the update captured 14 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) and 2 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). No providers held dual BCBA and RBT credentials in this cohort. The resulting 7-to-1 ratio of RBTs to BCBAs is healthy, suggesting that this new frontline workforce has adequate clinical oversight from supervisors. The data also included other professionals, such as 2 LCSWs, reflecting a multidisciplinary provider landscape.
Provider Demographics
Among the individual providers, women represent the vast majority of the workforce at 84%, with 21 female providers compared to four male providers. No specific organizations, such as large multi-state chains, appeared multiple times in this week's update. The primary hubs for these providers are Aiea, Honolulu, and Wailuku.
This recent influx of RBTs, supported by a proportional number of BCBAs, points to a direct expansion of ABA service delivery capacity across the islands.
