Kansas saw 50 behavioral health providers in the latest CMS NPI registry weekly update, representing 1% of the national total. Notably, 22 providers were new additions this week, matching the total new providers for the year. This steady influx, while smaller in scale compared to larger states, is crucial for expanding access to care in Kansas and signals ongoing growth in its behavioral health workforce.
ABA Workforce Dynamics and Broader Credentials
Within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data indicates 8 BCBA credentials and 15 RBT credentials. It is important to note that these categories are not mutually exclusive, as 2 individuals hold both BCBA and RBT credentials, often reflecting career progression from direct service to supervisory roles. The ratio of RBTs to BCBAs highlights the need for robust supervision capacity to support direct service provision. Beyond ABA, the state also saw additions across other behavioral health disciplines, including 7 LSCSW credentials and 5 LMSW credentials, contributing to a diverse care landscape. Additionally, 11 providers reported multiple taxonomies, indicating a breadth of service offerings.
Provider Demographics and Organizational Presence
Of the 44 individual providers, the gender breakdown shows 37 (84%) are female, 5 (11%) are male, and 2 (5%) identify as nonbinary, aligning with the female-dominant trend in behavioral health. The update also included 6 organizational providers. No notable multi-state organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data for Kansas, suggesting growth is driven by a mix of individual practitioners and smaller, local entities.
This consistent, albeit modest, growth in the behavioral health workforce, particularly within ABA, is vital for improving access to critical services and addressing ongoing workforce needs across Kansas.
