Puerto Rico's latest CMS NPI registry update shows 138 total behavioral health providers, representing 1% of the national weekly total. This week alone, 13 new providers were added. While a smaller share of the national landscape, this consistent growth indicates ongoing efforts to expand the island's behavioral health workforce, which is vital for meeting local service demands.
ABA Workforce Dynamics
Within the applied behavior analysis (ABA) sector, the data indicates 4 BCBA credentials and 0 RBT credentials. There were no individuals holding dual BCBA and RBT credentials. The complete absence of RBTs is a critical finding, suggesting a significant gap in the direct service provider workforce for ABA therapy in Puerto Rico. While 4 BCBAs are present, their capacity to deliver services directly or supervise a robust RBT team is limited by the lack of RBTs, potentially hindering widespread ABA access.
Provider Demographics
Of the 132 individual providers in this update, the gender distribution is nearly equal: 67 (51%) are female, and 65 (49%) are male, with no nonbinary providers reported. This balanced demographic contrasts with some other behavioral health fields. Notably, no specific organizations appeared multiple times in this week's data, suggesting a fragmented or localized provider landscape rather than the dominance of large, multi-state chains often seen elsewhere.
The current workforce composition, particularly the scarcity of RBTs, highlights a significant challenge for expanding ABA services and meeting the growing demand for behavioral health support across Puerto Rico.
