Washington added 101 behavioral health providers in the latest weekly CMS NPI registry update, representing 2% of the national total. This consistent contribution indicates a steady, albeit not dominant, growth in the state's behavioral health workforce, with 87 individuals and 14 organizations enrolling this week.
ABA Workforce Composition
Within the applied behavior analysis field, the data shows 2 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and 19 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) among the new individual providers. No individuals were reported with dual BCBA and RBT credentials this week. The notable ratio of RBTs to BCBAs, at nearly 10:1, highlights a potential bottleneck in supervision capacity, which is crucial for RBT practice and overall ABA service delivery in the state.
Provider Demographics
Among the new individual providers, women constitute the majority at 69% (60 individuals), while men account for 24% (21 individuals), and 7% (6 individuals) identify as nonbinary. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data, suggesting a diverse entry of new practices rather than significant expansion by existing multi-state chains.
This week's data suggests a growing demand for direct service providers in Washington, but the high RBT-to-BCBA ratio indicates a continued need for more supervisory-level ABA professionals to ensure adequate access to quality care.
