Mission Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) reached an agreement this week in a months-long contract dispute that had inconvenienced many in the western part of the state.

Since Oct. 5, when Mission terminated its contract with BCBSNC, all Mission facilities have been “out-of-network” for BCBSNC patients, including state employees and retirees covered by the State Health Plan.

The new agreement means state employees and retirees can once again use Mission hospitals at “in-network” rates beginning on Dec. 15. Terms of the new contract were not available. "Both parties are pleased to reach agreement on the mutual goal of ensuring that the people of Western North Carolina receive the affordable, quality health care that they need," the two sides said in a joint statement to the Asheville Citizen-Times.