EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett Clinic and Regence BlueShield have reached a contract resolution, representatives from both parties said late Friday night.

A statement released Friday night said, "That means for Regence Medicare Advantage PPO and Regence Medicare Advantage HMO, plus commercial Regence BlueShield, you can continue to see your Everett Clinic provider in 2017 as an in-network provider."

Both expect services to continue without disruption in 2017 for Regence patients being seen at the Everett Clinic.

Earlier, there had been concerns that the contract dispute would force some 69,000 patients to find a new insurance plan, or end up paying out-of-network fees.

The agreement avoids customers having to pay thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket expenses.

In July, a contract spat between Providence Health & Services and Premera Blue Cross affected an estimated 7,000 Premera patient accounts, sending shock waves through the state's health care industry. Providence said it would not be renewing Premera plans starting Jan. 1.

Providence and Premera later reached an agreement in September.