Arizona recorded 120 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, representing 2% of the national total. Among these, 49 were new this week, contributing to a total of 58 new providers this year. This consistent activity, comprising 92 individual providers and 28 organizations, indicates a steady expansion of behavioral health capacity within the state.
ABA Workforce Dynamics
Focusing on the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data shows 17 BCBA credentials and 29 RBT credentials. It is important to note that these categories are not mutually exclusive, as 2 individuals hold both BCBA and RBT credentials, reflecting career progression from direct service to supervisory roles. The ratio of RBTs to BCBAs suggests a growing direct service workforce that relies heavily on a smaller pool of supervisors, highlighting the critical need for more BCBAs to ensure adequate supervision and quality of care across the state.
Provider Demographics and Organizations
Demographically, individual providers in Arizona are predominantly female, accounting for 75 individuals or 82%. Male providers total 16 individuals, making up 17%, with 1 individual identifying as nonbinary, representing 1%. No specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's update, indicating a diverse range of smaller entities or individual practices rather than significant expansion from large multi-state chains.
This data suggests a continued, albeit modest, growth in Arizona's behavioral health workforce, with a particular emphasis on direct ABA service providers, which is essential for improving access to care for individuals needing these specialized services.
