How Do I Start Treatment at Thundermaker?
Starting treatment should not be the hardest part. One call to (928) 531-1930 is enough. We answer your call 24 hours a day, and by the end of that call you will know whether Thundermaker is the right fit, what your coverage needs, and the earliest date you could start.
You do not need to have it figured out. Most people who call us are tired, scared, or calling for someone they love. Tell us what is going on. We ask a few questions, explain your options, and take the paperwork from there.
Family members, case managers, probation officers, tribal health staff, and PRC coordinators are all welcome to make the first call.
Who Can Come to Thundermaker?
Adults seeking treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. Most of our relatives are Native American and Alaska Native, from tribes in Arizona and across the country, and we help plan travel for people coming from out of state. We also admit people referred by tribal courts, probation, case managers, IHS behavioral health providers, and PRC offices.
Our addiction treatment services include partial hospitalization (PHP), intensive outpatient (IOP), individual, family, and couples counseling, trauma-informed therapy and EMDR, relapse prevention, and telehealth. Ceremony, sweat lodge, garden, drum, and traditional arts run in the same program through our Cultural and Traditional Program. Some of our staff sat in these same circles as clients. Now they are here to walk with you. Court-ordered DUI and anger management programs have their own screening process.
How Do I Get Started?
Three steps. We do most of the work in the middle one.
- Call usCall (928) 531-1930, any hour, and ask for admissions. Referring professionals, ask for Jeri. We talk through what is happening, what coverage you have, and when you could start. Same day answers.
- We sort out coverageAHCCCS members can usually move quickly. If IHS Purchased/Referred Care may pay, contact your service unit's PRC office first and request Thundermaker by name; we then prepare the clinical documentation and work the authorization with your PRC office. Tribal funding and private pay are also options.Most delays come from PRC not being notified before care. Calling your service unit first is the single most useful thing you can do.
- Admission dayWe set the date, help with travel, and tell you exactly what you need to bring. On your first day you meet the team, complete an assessment, and build your plan with your counselor. Culture is part of the plan from day one.
Emergencies: get care first. If PRC may pay, notify the PRC office within 72 hours (30 days if you are 65 or older or have a disability), then call us.
How Do I Pay for Treatment?
Cost should never be the reason someone stays out. Here are the ways treatment at Thundermaker gets paid for.
AHCCCS (Arizona Medicaid)
Accepted. Arizona AHCCCS has expanded its coverage to include traditional healing practices such as the sweat lodge. See what AHCCCS covers here.
IHS Purchased/Referred Care
Thundermaker is a confirmed IHS PRC provider for the Nashville Area. IHS PRC may pay for treatment when your service unit authorizes it before care. Read how IHS PRC pays for addiction treatment, or download the PRC referral checklist and bring it to your PRC office.
Tribal funding
Some tribes pay for treatment directly through their health, behavioral health, or social services departments. Ask your tribe, or have them call us. We are glad to set up an agreement with any tribe.
Private pay and other insurance
Private pay is available. If you have other insurance, Medicare, or VA coverage, tell us on the first call and we will check what it covers.
What Do I Need to Bring?
Bring what you have. Missing paperwork is never a reason to wait; we help you track it down. Here is what to expect your first day.
- Photo ID
- Tribal enrollment card or CIB, if you have one
- AHCCCS, insurance, Medicare, or VA cards
- Any medications you take, in their original bottles, and a list of doses
- Court, probation, or DUI paperwork, and your officer's contact information
- PRC authorization number, if your PRC office issued one
- A referral or assessment from an IHS or tribal provider, if you have one
- Phone numbers for the family members you want us to be able to talk with
Before we share anything about your care with family or a referring professional, you sign a release of information naming them. You can change or withdraw it at any time.
Are You Helping Someone You Love?
These guides are for families and relatives.
Referring a Client?
Case managers, PRC officers, tribal courts, and behavioral health providers: call (928) 531-1930 and ask for Jeri, or fax (928) 441-1933. With the client's consent you get updates at intake, mid-treatment, and discharge, and discharge planning is coordinated with your tribal health or social services staff.
The IHS PRC vendor page has our NPI, license, service unit list, and the full referral packet: referral form, case manager agreement, and program overview.
Questions People Ask Before They Call
How soon can I start?
Call and we will give you the earliest date. Timing depends mostly on coverage. AHCCCS members can often start within days; IHS PRC authorizations take longer, which is why we ask you to contact your service unit right away.
Do I need a referral?
Not to call us. If IHS PRC may pay for your treatment, your service unit needs to be notified before care and may want a referral from an IHS or tribal provider. We will tell you on the first call whether that applies to you.
Can a family member call for me?
Yes. Many first calls come from a mother, a partner, or a cousin. We will talk with them, and then with you when you are ready.
I am on probation or have a court order. Can I still come?
Yes. We work with tribal and state courts, probation, and DUI programs, and we send attendance and completion reports to the contact named on your paperwork on the schedule the court sets.
I live out of state. Is that a problem?
No. We serve relatives from tribes across the country and help plan travel to Prescott. Tell us where you are coming from and we will plan the trip with you.
What if my PRC office says no?
Most denials are fixable, usually missing documents or other coverage not yet applied for. The denial letter must say why and how to appeal. Call us and we will help you respond before the deadline.
Ready When You Are.
We answer your call 24 hours a day. If it is easier, email admissions@thundermakerwellness.com and we will call you back.
Thundermaker Wellness Center, 1045 Whipple Street, Prescott, Arizona 86305. Fax (928) 441-1933.