Willow Health and Alliance Health Partner with Johnston County to Bring Same-Day Virtual Behavioral Health Urgent Care to North Carolinians

New, first-of-its-kind partnership between Willow Health, Alliance Health, Johnston County, and Osier Health P.C. provides an alternative to the emergency room for individuals experiencing an immediate mental health need, with no direct referral required.

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C., Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Willow Health, a virtual urgent behavioral health clinic, and Alliance Health, a North Carolina local management entity and managed care organization serving Johnston County, has partnered with the County and Osier Health P.C. to offer County residents 18 and older access to same-day virtual behavioral health urgent care. No referral is required. The Johnston County Virtual Behavioral Health Urgent Care clinic is the first partnership of its kind in North Carolina that extends behavioral health urgent care to online, at-home settings.

Individuals needing outpatient mental health treatment can often face long wait times to see a provider, a delay that frequently results in avoidable emergency room visits. Alliance Health collaborates with local health systems, crisis service, and outpatient providers to provide faster, more accessible, community-based options for individuals and families with an urgent behavioral health need, now including the option to receive care remotely.

Willow Health's multidisciplinary team includes psychiatric nurse practitioners, therapists, care managers, and certified peer support specialists who provide same-day virtual appointments and intensive treatment programs over secure video. It treats conditions including anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and trauma and PTSD. Programs include individual therapy, group therapy, medication management, and peer support. 83% of patients with anxiety and 84% of patients with depression improved and remained stable following care with Willow Health. 

"This new initiative reflects Alliance's commitment to creating accessible, high-quality crisis response services in Johnston County as part of our continuum of crisis services across the seven counties in North Carolina we serve," said Rob Robinson, Chief Executive Officer at Alliance Health. "Our partnership with Willow Health ensures that our Alliance Health Tailored Plan members across the state, and every Johnston County resident over the age of 18, regardless of insurance status, can get the care they deserve. This innovative virtual behavioral health urgent care provides individuals in need with resources for assessment, individual and group therapy, and medication management from their own home." 

"Too many people reach a breaking point and find that the only door open to them is the emergency room," said Lauren Morrell, CEO and Co-Founder of Willow Health. "This partnership means Johnston County residents can instead get same-day, evidence-based care that then continues to provide ongoing stabilization. Across our existing patients, that model has driven a 90% reduction in emergency room returns within 90 days compared to the national average. We built Willow to prove that speed and quality of care don't have to be a trade-off, and we're proud to bring that model to North Carolina. We're also actively working with additional health plans to expand coverage and improve access to timely behavioral health care."

"Johnston County is one of the fastest-growing counties in North Carolina, with increasing needs for behavioral health crisis services for all County residents," said Dr. Marilyn Pearson, Johnston County's Public Health Director. "This partnership provides urgent mental health support to all residents 18 and older, even individuals who are uninsured, recognizing our County's commitment to assisting individuals in need. County residents now have a fast option for urgent mental health care without having to leave their home or wait weeks for an appointment."

Plans for the next phase of the partnership include an in-person location in Johnston County where patients without access to the Internet or a device can virtually connect with a Willow Health clinician. Alliance Health and its partners are also committed to expanding access to adolescent behavioral health care.

Residents can see a clinician the same day or schedule an appointment by visiting willowbehaviorahealth.com/johnston-county or calling 919-504-6520. Virtual clinic hours are weekdays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET.

If you or a loved one is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.

About Willow Health

Willow Health is a virtual behavioral health urgent care clinic that offers same-day virtual appointments and intensive, personalized treatment programs that begin quickly after intake. All appointments are held over secure video with a team that includes psychiatric nurse practitioners, therapists, care managers, and certified peer support specialists. Willow Health now treats patients across New York and North Carolina and is in the process of expanding across the United States.

About Alliance Health

Alliance Health is a public managed care organization serving Johnston, Cumberland, Durham, Harnett, Mecklenburg, Orange and Wake counties in North Carolina. Working with a network of more than 4,000 private providers, Alliance has responsibility for 464,000 Medicaid-eligible and uninsured individuals among a population of over 3.5 million. The Alliance Medicaid Tailored Plan manages all the health care needs – physical, behavioral and pharmacy – for people with complex mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and long-term care needs including intellectual/developmental disability and traumatic brain injury.

About Johnston County

Founded in 1746, Johnston County is home to more than 256,000 people, making it North Carolina's ninth largest county by population. Johnston boasts a diversified economy grounded in agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Its public schools are among the highest ranking in North Carolina, and the county is home to fast-growing Johnston Community College. To learn more, go to johnstonnc.gov.

Media Contact:

Kiersten Berg
[email protected]
willowbehavioralhealth.com/johnston-county

Doug Fuller
[email protected]

SOURCE Willow Health