Share Your Ideas

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We’re inviting community members to participate in a focus group and share their thoughts about NOAH. These sessions are designed to gather feedback and ideas that will help shape future decisions and improve the patient experience.

Participants will be expected to actively contribute to the discussion and share their perspectives during the 90-minute session. To ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate, each focus group will be limited to 10-12 people.

All meetings are in-person at:

Palomino Health Center
16251 N. Cave Creek Road
Phoenix, AZ 85032

Focus groups are scheduled for the following dates:

Participant Typedatetime
Current NOAH Patients – English SpeakingMonday, June 296:00pm – 7:30pm
Current NOAH Patients – Spanish Speaking Wednesday, July 1 9:30am – 11:00am
Non-NOAH Patients – English SpeakingTuesday, June 306:00pm – 7:30pm
Current patients are defined as having an appointment with a NOAH provider in the last 18 months.
Participants must be at least 18 years of age.

Interested in participating?

  • Ensure you are able to attend the appropriate focus group listed above.
  • Complete the short form below. It takes less than 5 minutes to complete and gives us information about your healthcare experiences and preferences to help guide the focus group discussion.

Participants who attend and remain for the full 90-minute session will receive a $50 gift card to Walmart as a thank-you for their time and feedback.



Pain at the Pump? Try Telehealth!

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When fuel prices have you driving on fumes, there’s another way to get the care you need—without an extra trip to the gas station. Telehealth makes it simple to connect with your care team right from your phone or computer.

Also called a virtual or video visit, many appointments can be done from home, work, or school. No matter where you are, we’ll meet you there with just a few exceptions.

Visits must take place:

  • within the state of Arizona
  • in a private setting without excessive background noise or activity

Life is busy. Telehealth helps you take care of your health without changing your whole schedule. You can skip the commute, avoid waiting rooms, and spend less time away from work, school, or family responsibilities.

Visits approved for telehealth:

  • primary care
  • counseling
  • psychiatry
  • nutrition
  • community resources

In-person appointments required:

  • well-child visits
  • sports physicals
  • adult physicals
  • well-woman exams
  • Medicare wellness visits
  • dental care

Telehealth is a proven and effective way to receive care. Patients and providers say it saves time, reduces missed visits, and helps people stay on track with their health. It can also help you save money. Insurance covers telehealth just like an in-person appointment and without the need to travel, you can cut down on gas and other costs while focusing on your well-being. You can also rest assured that your personal information is protected with secure, easy-to-use technology designed for all ages.

For more information about telehealth or to schedule an appointment, click here or call us at 480-882-4545.

Fresh for You Food Lockers Coming Soon to Midtown Health Center

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We are proud to share an exciting step forward in expanding access to whole-person care across our community. With a generous $200,000 investment from Molina Healthcare of Arizona, NOAH is growing its Fresh for You food distribution program, strengthening our shared commitment to improving health outcomes for all.

This support from Molina Healthcare will bring refrigerated food lockers to NOAH’s Midtown Health Center at 24th Street and Indian School, making it easier for patients and community members to access fresh, nutritious food when they need it most. This expansion reflects a powerful partnership focused on addressing not only medical needs, but also the social factors, such as food access, that play a critical role in overall health.

At NOAH, our mission is to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing accessible, high-quality care for all. Programs like Fresh for You are central to that vision. Since launching in 2023, the program has distributed nearly 5,000 food boxes, totaling more than 130,000 pounds and helping thousands of individuals and families lead healthier lives.

The addition of refrigerated food lockers at the Midtown location builds on the success of the Fresh for You program at NOAH’s Cholla Health Center in Scottsdale. It will become the second site to offer this innovative solution with support from Molina Healthcare. With 16 new lockers and a dedicated food coordinator, NOAH will be able to connect even more people to healthy food and essential community resources, removing barriers and creating pathways to better health.

This work is made possible not only through Molina Healthcare’s commitment, but also through strong community partnerships with organizations like St. Mary’s Food Bank, Farm Box, and WasteNot. Together, we are advancing a shared goal to ensure that everyone, regardless of circumstance, has access to the nourishment they need to thrive.

While the new food lockers at Midtown Health Center will not be operational until later this year, we recently celebrated our continued partnership with community leaders, partners, and team members from Molina Healthcare and NOAH during a special “Fruit Slicing” event at Cholla Health Center. It was a meaningful moment to reflect on the impact of this work and the collective effort behind it, and a reminder of what is possible when organizations come together in service of community health.

Take Our Survey to Help Improve Health

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What helps you and your family stay healthy? What would make it easier to get care when you need it? We think about these questions every day as we work to make our community a healthier place to live, learn, work, and play. To do this well, we need to hear from you.

BEGIN SURVEY

NOAH is proud to partner with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to offer a short, anonymous survey. This survey will help us learn more about the health needs in our community and will be used to help create Maricopa County’s 2026 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA).

A CHNA is a big project that most public health organizations (including NOAH) complete every three years. It helps us understand what is working well and what needs to improve when it comes to health. It looks at things like access to care, important services, and physical and mental health.

The CHNA also helps us understand why some people and communities have more health challenges than others. This work is supported by Synapse, a collaboration of healthcare partners, and the Health Improvement Partnership of Maricopa County.

Your voice matters. When you share your thoughts, you help us learn how to better support you and your community. The survey is open to anyone age 13 or older who lives in Maricopa County. It is available in English and Spanish, and your answers are completely anonymous.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey and share it with your family, friends, and neighbors. Your input can help make our community healthier for everyone.

 

To learn more about how the CHNA process supports NOAH’s work, check out our most recent CHNA report here.

Turn Your Arizona Taxes Into Local Impact

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If you pay Arizona state income taxes, you can donate to a qualified charity and receive a dollar-for-dollar credit on your state taxes. That means the amount you donate comes off what you owe the state. For example, if you donate $400, your Arizona tax bill can be reduced by $400. It’s a simple way to support local nonprofits and help your community using money you were already going to pay in taxes.

DONATE TODAY

Why It Matters

Programs like the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit give people the chance to support organizations like NOAH that are making a difference right here in our community.

Instead of sending all of your state tax dollars to the government, you can direct some of that money to a nonprofit doing important work locally.

Your donation to NOAH helps provide healthcare services including dental, behavioral health, medical, and health education programs for children and families in the communities where we live and work.

How It Works

Step 1: Donate to NOAH or another qualifying organization
Step 2: Get a receipt for your donation
Step 3: Claim the credit when you file your Arizona tax return
Step 4: Pay less in state taxes

Example:

  • You owe Arizona $500 in state taxes
  • You donate $400 to NOAH
  • You claim the credit on your tax return
  • You now owe the state $100

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this donation cost me extra money?
For most taxpayers, no. The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit lets you reduce the state taxes you owe by the same amount you donate.

Who can claim the credit?
Anyone who pays Arizona state income taxes can qualify if they donate to NOAH or another qualified charitable organization.

How much can I donate?
For 2025, individuals can donate up to $495 and couples filing jointly can donate up to $987 and receive the full credit.

Do I have to itemize deductions?
No. You can claim the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit even if you take the standard deduction on your federal taxes.

When do I need to donate?
Donations made before you file your Arizona taxes for the year can typically be applied to that tax year. For example, donations made anytime in 2025 and until April 15, 2026 are eligible for the 2025 charitable tax credit (as long as they have not been previously claimed).

Can I claim donations to more than one qualifying organization?
Yes! You can donate to as many qualified organizations as you wish and claim a total maximum credit of up to $495 for individuals and $987 for couples filing jointly.

DONATE TODAY

Prescription Pick-up Now Available at All Locations

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NOAH’s Cholla Pharmacy now offers next day courier services to all NOAH Health Center locations.

To make sure you get your medications accurately and on time, here’s what you need to do:

For New Medications:

  • Let your provider or medical assistant know that you want NOAH’s Cholla Pharmacy to be your preferred pharmacy.
  • If you choose Cholla Health Center for pick-up:
    • Your medication will likely be ready for pick-up right away. The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch.
  • If you choose any other NOAH location for pick-up:
    • Your provider or medical assistant will request your medications be couriered to your selected NOAH location. Prescriptions ordered before 3 p.m. will be available for pick-up the following day. Medication can be picked up anytime during regular clinic operating hours (hours vary by location).
  • Please note that some medications may be out of stock or require a special order. NOAH’s Pharmacy will let you know if your medication will not be ready within the typical time frame.
  • Courier service is also not available for controlled substances.
  • If you want an update on your order, you can call the pharmacy at 480-903-3560.

For Existing Prescriptions:

If you already have prescriptions filled elsewhere, you can easily transfer them to NOAH’s Pharmacy by calling your provider. NOAH providers can be reached via MyChart or by calling 480-882-4545.

NOAH’s full-service pharmacy located at NOAH’s Cholla Health Center is open to anyone including NOAH patients and community members. For more information, you can reach our pharmacy at 480-903-3560.

Community Care Day Event Draws Hundreds

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Patients traveled from as far as the west valley to Cholla Health Center in Scottsdale for Community Care Day. The event offered free resources for all including:

  • Groceries
  • Diapers and Wipes
  • School Supplies
  • Haircuts
  • Face Painting
  • Enrollment Assistance

Special thanks to our presenting sponsors Molina Healthcare and Jaburg Wilk Law Firm along with our School Supplies Sponsor Delta Dental of Arizona, and other community partners including St. Mary’s Food Bank, Blue Zones Project Scottsdale, Sprouts, WasteNot, Desert Mission Food Bank, Vista Del Camino Food Bank, Mayan Tortilla Factory, and ClipDart. Our heartfelt appreciation also goes out to each and every volunteer who dedicated their time to serving others.

What’s Next for Medicaid?

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Cuts to Medicaid (also known as AHCCCS in Arizona) and other important programs were recently approved by the House of Representatives, but the fight for Medicaid is far from over.

Approved by the House

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the budget reconciliation bill known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on May 22 with a 215-214 vote.

Arizona Representatives’ Votes

RepresentativeVote
Yassamin AnsariNo
Andy BiggsYes
Juan CiscomaniYes
Elijah CraneYes
Paul A. GosarYes
Abraham HamadehYes
David SchweikertNot Voting*
Greg StantonNo
*David Schweikert missed the vote but has indicated he would have voted “yes”.

Medicaid Impacts

Work Requirements and Redeterminations

  • Mandatory work requirements for certain Medicaid enrollees, potentially impacting eligibility.
  • Requires eligibility redetermination for some adults more frequently, such as every six months. 

State Funding Limitations

  • Limits the use of state-directed payments and other state funding mechanisms, including provider taxes.
  • Reduces the federal matching rate (FMAP) for Medicaid expansion in states that voluntarily choose to expand.

Cost Sharing Penalties

  • Requires states to impose cost-sharing on people with incomes above the poverty level who are enrolled in Medicaid expansion. 
  • There are also provisions that could potentially penalize states that cover certain immigrant groups, particularly those who are not “qualified aliens” or “children or pregnant women who are lawfully residing in the United States”. 

Impact on Medicaid Expansion

  • The bill’s changes could significantly impact Medicaid expansion states, particularly those that have taken steps to expand coverage for immigrant groups.
  • Some analyses suggest that the bill could lead to a reduction in Medicaid enrollment and potentially increase the number of uninsured individuals.

What’s Next?

Now that the House of Representatives has passed the bill, it goes to the Senate, where Senators will debate and, if necessary, amend the bill. If the Senate requires any changes be made to pass the bill, the House and Senate will meet to come to an agreement on any differences. Then the House will have to vote again on final passage before the bill goes to the President to be signed into law.

Many Senators, including Arizona’s Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly have expressed concerns about cuts to Medicaid and have indicated they intend to change or oppose these cuts. This process gives us the opportunity to continue our advocacy efforts with U.S. Representatives from Arizona as there’s a good chance the bill may end up back in the House for another vote.

How You Can Help

Continue to contact Arizona delegates in the House of Representatives and let them know why Medicaid matters to you.

  • Submit a comment here. NOAH will print it on a postcard, address it to the representative for your district, and mail it for you.
  • Use our Medicaid Matters Toolkit for sample letters and statements as well as contact information to reach out to your representative by mail, email, or phone.
  • Share this information with your family and friends and encourage them to speak up for Medicaid.

More Information

Medicaid and the federal budget process are both complicated topics. Check out this article to understand more about Medicaid and this article to learn how cuts could impact you.

Is My Healthcare at Risk?

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The federal government has proposed huge cuts to Medicaid over the next 10 years beginning with the budget for 2026. Many Arizonans rely on Medicaid for their healthcare coverage but don’t know it because Medicaid is referred to as AHCCCS (pronounced “access”) in Arizona.

What Is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a program with oversight at the federal and state levels that provides healthcare insurance to low-income individuals and families. It covers a broad range of services, including doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and preventive care. Eligibility is primarily based on income and household size. Medicaid is often confused with Medicare which provides healthcare coverage to people over the age of 65 or younger individuals with certain health conditions.

Medicaid in Arizona: AHCCCS

In Arizona, Medicaid is administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, also known as AHCCCS (written as AHCCCS and sounds like access). It offers health insurance to low-income families and individuals. While AHCCCS operates under the same federal guidelines as Medicaid, it is tailored to meet the specific needs of Arizona residents. AHCCCS offers various healthcare programs to serve eligible individuals and families in the state.

AHCCCS Health Plans in Arizona

AHCCCS contracts with several health plans to provide medical services to its members. These plans function similarly to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), coordinating care through networks of doctors, hospitals, and other providers – including NOAH. Members typically select a health plan available in their geographic area.

Some of the AHCCCS health plans available in our area include:

  • Arizona Complete Health – Complete Care Plan
  • Banner-University Family Care
  • Molina Healthcare
  • Mercy Care
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Health Choice
  • UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

Each plan serves specific counties and may offer additional benefits. Members can find more information and select a plan that best fits their needs through the AHCCCS website.

Why Awareness Matters

Many individuals enrolled in AHCCCS may not realize they are on Medicaid, especially if they associate their coverage with a specific health plan name. This lack of awareness can lead to misunderstandings about how policy changes or funding cuts to Medicaid (like the ones we are currently facing) could directly affect their health coverage and access to services.

Understanding that AHCCCS is Arizona’s Medicaid program also results in better communication between patients and healthcare providers ensuring that individuals can make informed decisions about their healthcare options.

Even if you’re not a Medicaid recipient, it’s important to know that everyone stands to lose something if proposed budget cuts are approved by congress. Medicaid recipients will be directly impacted while others will likely see a rise in healthcare costs, increased premiums, crowded emergency rooms, and a trickle down effect on grocery prices and other basic needs.

Take Action

As lawmakers voted into office, our representatives look to their constituents (people who live in their districts) to determine how to vote on specific issues. It’s important that we communicate to them why Medicaid matters in our community and how cuts will be detrimental to Arizona residents.

Here’s How:

  • Find out if you’re enrolled in an AHCCCS health plan. It’s best to identify whether or not you are a Medicaid recipient when speaking up against proposed budget cuts. Either way, your voice is important.
  • Stay informed about any proposed changes to Medicaid policies.
  • Utilize resources in our Medicaid Matters toolkit to help communicate your views.
  • Personal stories make a big impact. If you aren’t comfortable or don’t know how to share your story, reach out to us at noahcares@noahhelps.org for assistance.
Share Your Story

Together, we can make a difference.

What is Play Therapy?

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Play therapy provides a unique opportunity for patients of all ages to connect with counselors by sharing their thoughts and feelings through activities.

NOAH is excited to announce the opening of play therapy rooms at Cholla Health Center in Scottsdale and Copperwood II Health Center in Glendale. Both spaces along with specialized training for NOAH counselors were funded through a generous grant from the Ibis Foundation of Arizona. Features of the play therapy rooms include:

Play

  • Play is the primary form of learning in small children.
  • Difficult and stressful things can be acted out through play.
  • Having a conversation through a toy telephone or showing home life through a doll house and characters can help a child talk about a hard thing.
  • Toys like a pounding bench, bean bags, and punching bags help teach and practice self-regulation skills.

Art

  • There are many things words can’t describe. Painting, drawing, and other forms of art give patients ways to express their emotions nonverbally.
  • Patients may be asked to create art following a single prompt, a series of instructions, or no direction at all.

Emotion

  • It can be difficult to talk about emotions when you don’t know the names or definitions for most of them.
  • In play therapy counselors use tools to help patients understand emotions and describe their feelings.
  • In an emotion exercise, a patient may catch a ball labeled with common emotions and where their thumb lands, tell the counselor about the last time they felt that way.

Building

  • Building activities encourage play that copies real-life situations.
  • Whether with Legos, Tinker Toys, or blocks, the act of building can improve self-confidence or develop skills like problem-solving.
  • Building in therapy can be a non-stressful activity where the counselor follows the child’s lead while they build anything or it can be therapist led to recreate a specific stressful event. 

Games

  • Games are a multifunctional activity, and most of the time, they are just fun. However, the therapist can select a game that will help practice a learned skill, define a concept, mimic a situation, or encourage mindful or even mindless conversation.
  • Games like Mancala or Jenga are designed to be stressful and raise anxiety responses, allowing patients to practice anxiety management skills.
  • Other games like Left, Right, Center, or Sorry challenge the idea that needs-based interactions are selfish and help children see the difference between being mean and fulfilling individual needs.
  • Uno, Trash, and Don’t Break the Ice allow the brain to rest and be distracted while talking and In a Pickle or Suspend help with family communication.

Reading

  • Reading is a social-emotional activity that allows for increased connection and communication.
  • Therapists use books of all kinds for all ages. The book “Through the Gate” shows a child’s move to a new home. The story sparks conversation about change and even growing up.
  • Reading also allows the therapist to help parents learn how to listen.
  • It can be as simple as teaching parents how to read to, and with, their children or as complex as how to read books to children that address hard-to-manage issues, like “The Invisible Leash” which addresses the death of a pet.

Play therapy is a clinical form of behavioral health treatment that may be recommended by your NOAH provider. If you or someone you know may benefit from play therapy or other methods of behavioral health treatment, request an appointment online or call 480-882-4545 to schedule an evaluation.