Tennessee added 52 behavioral health providers in the latest weekly CMS update, accounting for 1% of the national total. This consistent contribution reflects steady growth in the state's behavioral health sector, with 44 individuals and 8 organizations joining the registry this week.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis field, the update includes 5 new BCBAs and 18 new RBTs. It's important to note that credential and taxonomy counts can overlap, as providers may hold multiple designations; however, this week's data shows 0 individuals with dual BCBA and RBT credentials. The ratio of RBTs to BCBAs, at 3.6 to 1, indicates a healthy influx of direct service providers relative to supervisory capacity, which is crucial for expanding ABA services.
Provider Demographics
Among the 44 individual providers, women constitute the majority, at 73% (32 individuals). Male providers account for 18% (8 individuals), and 9% (4 individuals) identify as nonbinary. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data. Nashville, Chattanooga, and Bruceton were among the top cities for new enrollments.
This week's additions, particularly the RBTs, indicate a continued expansion of the direct service workforce, which is vital for improving access to ABA therapy in Tennessee.
