Puerto Rico's behavioral health sector saw 32 total providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update, with 13 new providers added this week. While this represents 0% of the national weekly total, indicating a very small fraction of national activity, it still contributes to the island's local workforce. Of these, 30 individuals and 2 organizations were registered, with 17 new providers joining this year.
Credential Mix and Supervision Capacity
The ABA workforce in Puerto Rico shows a very limited presence among these new registrations. The data identifies only 1 Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and 1 Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) by credential. This low count of credentialed ABA professionals, with no providers holding dual BCBA and RBT credentials, suggests a significant scarcity of both direct service providers and, critically, supervision capacity for ABA services. The broader behavioral health landscape includes 3 M.D.s, 2 LCSWs, 2 MSWs, and other specialists like Speech-Language Pathologists and Psychologists, indicating a diverse but not ABA-focused growth. Notably, 3 providers hold multiple taxonomies, reflecting varied specializations.
Workforce Demographics
Among the 30 individual providers, the workforce is predominantly female, with 21 women comprising 70%. Male providers account for 9 individuals, or 30%. No nonbinary providers were reported. The top cities for new registrations include San Juan, Mayaguez, and Vega Baja. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data, suggesting a dispersed entry of new entities rather than significant expansion by existing multi-state chains.
This data suggests that while Puerto Rico is seeing some growth in its general behavioral health workforce, the ABA sector specifically faces substantial challenges in building out its provider base and supervision infrastructure, potentially limiting access to critical services for individuals needing ABA therapy.
