CROWN POINT | The Sisters of St. Francis hospital system is rescinding plans to terminate its contract with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Indiana, according to a statement released Friday evening.

The announcement means patients will continue to receive in-network benefits.

Officials from both parties said they made progress in discussing a new multiyear contract and will continue discussions until a new contract is reached, the statement said. Negotiations continued this week after both sides agreed to extend an earlier deadline to Friday. Talks had broken down in a dispute over rates and other issues.

Anthem rejected a Sisters of St. Francis proposal over what Anthem said were unacceptably high rates.

Sisters of St. Francis Health Services Inc., which operates St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point and St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers in Hammond and Dyer, as well as other hospitals in Indiana, said it asked for rates consistent with others in the market and competitive with what Anthem pays other hospitals and physicians.