Mississippi added 9 behavioral health providers in the latest weekly CMS update, representing a negligible share of the national total at 0%. All 9 providers were new this week, indicating a very modest, localized expansion within the state's behavioral health sector. This limited influx suggests a slow pace of growth compared to other regions.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis field, the update includes 1 Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and 3 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), as identified by their primary taxonomies. It is important to note that these counts reflect specific taxonomies and are not mutually exclusive with other listed credentials. There were no providers identified with dual BCBA and RBT credentials this week. This small sample, with 1 RBT to 3 BCBAs, presents an unusual ratio where supervisory capacity appears to outnumber direct service providers, potentially highlighting a need for more RBTs to deliver direct ABA services.
Provider Demographics and Organizations
Of the 5 individual providers added this week, the workforce is predominantly female, with women accounting for 80% (4 providers). Men comprise the remaining 20% (1 provider). In addition to individuals, the update also includes 4 organizations. No organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data, suggesting a diverse but fragmented entry of new entities rather than expansion by existing multi-state chains. The new providers are spread across cities like Bay St Louis, Yazoo City, Brandon, Olive Branch, and Jackson.
This week's data points to a very limited and geographically dispersed entry of new ABA professionals and organizations in Mississippi, suggesting a slow but steady, rather than rapid, expansion of behavioral health access in the state.
