Duke Health and Aetna on Friday announced a new multi-year agreement, preventing tens of thousands of people in the Triangle from needing to find a new doctor.

Duke Health, one of the state's biggest hospital chains, and Aetna, which insures 1.5 million North Carolinians, were engaged in an acrimonious contract dispute.

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The new agreement includes all Duke Health locations and providers. The previous contract between Duke and Aetna was scheduled to expire on Oct. 20.

The source of the dispute was over costs and payments. Duke's contention was that Aetna should increase what it's willing to pay for services, due in part to the rising costs of health care equipment, salaries and more. Aetna's position was that North Carolina already has among the highest health care costs in the nation and that Duke's request to raise costs even higher was unreasonable.

The actual details of the settlement remain confidential. But Aetna's biggest customer, the State Health Plan and its 750,000 members, hailed the deal Friday as a major win. State Treasurer Brad Briner had previously said that if Duke got everything it was asking for in the negotiations, the State Health Plan would have to raise people's premiums again.

But on Friday Briner gave no indication any such move was coming.

"We appreciate the steps Duke has taken to keep costs down for the Plan," Briner wrote in a statement. "We have worked hard to dig ourselves out of a massive deficit and needed the help from all providers in the state to get that done. This deal represents Duke’s commitment to serve North Carolina and our members."

The State Health Plan had been facing a $500 million deficit, although Briner and other officials say a combination this year of higher premiums, cost saving measures and cash infusions from the state legislature have helped right the ship. But they had feared that if Duke won higher rates from Aetna, which administers the State Health Plan, then other hospital systems would soon also raise their rates, likely forcing the need for yet another round of premium increases.

Briner's office said the State Health Plan "will continue to work with Aetna and all providers across the state to find ways to keep members from facing continued increases in health care costs."

Previously, Briner had said preparations were being made for the two parties not to reach a resolution by the deadline.