Idaho recorded the addition of 51 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, representing 1% of the national total. With 26 new providers this week, this modest concentration signals a steady, albeit smaller, growth trajectory for the state's behavioral health sector compared to more populous regions. The majority of these additions were individuals, with 41 individual providers compared to 10 organizations.
ABA Workforce Dynamics
A critical finding for the applied behavior analysis (ABA) industry is the presence of 8 Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), but notably 0 Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) among the new additions. This absence of BCBAs is significant, as RBTs require direct supervision from BCBAs to deliver ABA services. The lack of new BCBA credentials in this update could indicate a critical shortage in supervisory capacity, potentially hindering the expansion of ABA therapy access across Idaho. No individuals were reported with dual BCBA and RBT credentials this week.
Provider Demographics
Among the 41 individual providers, the workforce shows a clear gender distribution: 32 (78%) are female, while 9 (22%) are male. This aligns with broader trends in the behavioral health field. No specific organizations were identified as appearing multiple times in this week's data, suggesting a diverse landscape of smaller practices or individual providers rather than dominant multi-state chains like those seen in larger markets.
This data points to a developing behavioral health landscape in Idaho, where the current credential mix, particularly the lack of new BCBAs, poses a significant challenge for bolstering ABA access and building a comprehensive workforce in the state.
