Puerto Rico's behavioral health sector added 23 providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, representing less than 1% of the national weekly total. This update included 16 individuals and 7 organizations, with 15 of the total being new providers this week.
Credential Mix
Notably, this week's update included 0 BCBAs and 0 RBTs, a significant deviation from trends seen in many states where ABA providers dominate new registrations. Instead, growth was concentrated in adjacent fields, with new credentials including 1 LCSW, 1 MSW, 1 SLP, and 1 PHD. The presence of a "TRABAJADOR SOCIAL" credential further underscores the role of clinical social workers in the region's provider landscape. It is important to note that 6 providers in this update listed multiple taxonomies, contributing to the diverse professional mix.
Workforce Demographics
Among the new individual providers, the workforce is overwhelmingly female. Women accounted for 14 of the 16 individuals, or 88% of the total. The remaining providers were 2 men. No single organization appeared multiple times in this week's data, indicating varied organizational activity rather than expansion from a dominant multi-state chain. Provider activity was centered in cities including San Juan, Guaynabo, and Mayaguez.
This week's data suggests that recent behavioral health workforce growth in Puerto Rico is concentrated in social work, psychology, and speech-language pathology rather than in the ABA-specific sector.
