St. Luke's Health System will bring a Utah-based health insurer into Idaho by offering its insurance plans to St. Luke's employees and coordinating on a program that aims to lower insurance and health care costs for other Idahoans.

The Boise-based heatlh system announced the partnership Wednesday.

Starting this spring, the insurer SelectHealth will cover all St. Luke's employees who get their health insurance through work, said St. Luke's spokesman Ken Dey.

The insurer will open plans to other Idaho individuals, families and small businesses this fall, then to Medicare Advantage members, large employers and federal employees in January, according to a news release.

The program will eventually change how health care providers are reimbursed, St. Luke's said. The providers will be paid based on the quality of patient care, not just on how many patients they see or what services they provide, St. Luke's said.

The partnership will give insurers, patients and providers rewards and incentives for improving patients' health and the quality of care. It will also cut down on overhead and expenses by taking out unnecessary costs, St. Luke's said.

"The mutual goals of this alliance are to achieve the triple aim of better health, better care and lower cost in order to provide value for all stakeholders," said David Pate, chief executive officer and president of St. Luke's.

"Our exciting new relationship will fundamentally change how health care is delivered and how health insurance is experienced," said SelectHealth President and CEO Patricia R. Richards. "Together we will improve care and stabilize premiums."