Northern Light Health and Anthem agreed Wednesday to extend contract negotiations for another 30 days.

It comes after talks to draft up a new contract were stalled over reimbursement rates, with both sides blaming each other.

With the extension, patients who have Anthem will still be in-network with Northern Light medical providers through Oct. 31, while Anthem patients will receive in-network care for hospital services through Dec. 31.

Both sides originally had a Wednesday deadline to reach a deal.

In a statement released Wednesday, Gov. Janet Mills said she’s been involved with negotiations:

“Today, I met personally with representatives from Northern Light Health and Anthem after speaking with them by phone earlier this week. In our meetings today, I pushed both parties to agree to a 30-day extension to continue contract negotiations, an effort that was successful. While this extension is a better alternative than a lapse, I called on them – as I do again now – to resolve this stalemate and to reach a fair and equitable agreement once and for all. I made clear to both Northern Light and Anthem that a potential contract termination would be unacceptable and would have devastating impacts for thousands of Maine people, jeopardizing their access to care and needlessly risking their health along with it. That the parties have not yet reached an agreement has already created uncertainty and sent anxiety rippling through the lives of Maine people who are deeply worried about whether they can receive the care they need. Maine people deserve better. This needs to come to an end.”