Montana's behavioral health sector saw 67 new providers in the latest CMS NPI registry update. While this represents 0% of the national weekly total, a notable 11 providers were added this week alone, signaling localized growth rather than a significant national surge in the state's behavioral health workforce.
Credential Mix and ABA Capacity
Crucially for the applied behavior analysis (ABA) industry, the data shows 0 BCBA credentials and 0 RBT credentials among the new providers, with no individuals holding dual credentials. This complete absence of ABA-specific professionals suggests a significant gap in the state's capacity for Applied Behavior Analysis services. Instead, the majority of new individual providers hold credentials such as 14 LCPC credentials, 10 LAC credentials, and 9 LCSW credentials, indicating a focus on broader mental health and addiction services.
Workforce Demographics
Of the 62 individual providers, the gender distribution is predominantly female, with 77% female and 23% male. No specific organizations were noted as appearing multiple times in this update, suggesting a diverse landscape of smaller practices or individual providers rather than dominance by large multi-state chains like Blue Sprig or Action Behavior Centers. The state also added 5 organizational providers.
The current data highlights a pressing need for growth in ABA-specific professionals to improve access to these specialized services in Montana, while general behavioral health services are seeing modest expansion.
