COEUR d'ALENE - Three health care providers have formed Idaho Health Partners, which will open a new Heritage Health physician's clinic in Post Falls on July 1.

The new partnership will also be instrumental in the development of the new Mental Health Crisis Center in Coeur d'Alene later this summer.

Panhandle Health District, Kootenai Health and Heritage Health announced the joint project on Thursday. Through Idaho Health Partners, the three organizations are working together to enhance and expand access to health care for the people in North Idaho, according to a press release.

The partnership is designed to connect patients with primary care providers and community resources.

The partnership will officially launch with the opening of a Heritage Health clinic in Post Falls. Starting July 1, the clinic will offer primary care through a Kootenai Health and Heritage Health partnership as well as expanded services from Panhandle Health District.

"The Idaho Health Partnership will provide the most comprehensive care model in the region," said Lora Whalen, Panhandle Health District director. "Each of these health entities plays an integral role in improving the health care delivery system in northern Idaho. The partners share patient-centered values and provide quality, affordable healthcare to everyone."

Melanie Collett, public information officer at PHD, said her agency is expanding its Women, Infants and Children benefits program in the new Post Falls location.

The new Post Falls clinic is located on E. Polston Avenue in front of Super 1 Foods and next door to Peak Fitness, Collett said.

"We are still going to have WIC in our Hayden location as well," she said.

Idaho Health Partners will also increase data sharing between entities, the release said. This will improve local health assessments and make it easier to connect people in need with public health programs.

"We are excited about our new partnership," said Casey Meza, executive director of regional health services at Kootenai Health. "While Kootenai Health, Heritage Health and Panhandle Health District have worked closely for decades, Idaho Health Partners will allow a truly comprehensive approach to accessing care."

Heritage Health CEO Mike Baker could not be reached for comment on Thursday, but issued a statement in the release.

"Together, our organizations can leverage our resources to make healthcare more available and more affordable in our community," Baker said.

The three organizations that formed the partnership collectively serve more than 200,000 patients and residents in North Idaho annually. Luke Malek, who works for Heritage Health, said the partnership is more like a collaboration than a true for-profit partnership.

By joining forces, he said, the three agencies can avoid redundancies and maximize efficiencies for their patients.

He said the new Post Falls Clinic will follow the exact same model as the Heritage Health in Coeur d'Alene.

"We want to provide access to high-quality care regardless of a person's ability to pay," Malek said, adding patients will pay for their care on a sliding scale based on their income.

Malek, who is also a Republican state representative in Coeur d'Alene, said the new partnership will also play a prominent role in the development of the new state-funded Mental health Crisis Center in Coeur d'Alene.

Malek said he is still unsure of the time line for breaking ground on the new center and deferred question to Kootenai Health.

Kim Anderson, spokesperson for Kootenai Health, said the crisis center will be located in an existing facility that is being renovated to house it. Planning for the renovation is already underway, and the center is expected to be open by early December.

She said as required in the state statute, the Crisis Center will have 20 beds; 10 each for men and women using the center.

The Crisis Center will provide care to patients for less than 24 hours. Its purpose is to assess patients and connect them to resources that can provide additional help for their needs, Anderson said.