Five private hospitals which disputed the VHI's new payment system have signed an agreement with the insurance company to last until the end of this year.
This follows settlement of a High Court case in which the hospitals tried to restrain the VHI from implementing the revised payment scheme introduced last April. The High Court case was struck out with no order as to costs.
The hospitals are St Joseph's, Raheny, Dublin; Mount Carmel, Churchtown, Dublin; Renmore Hospital, Clane, Co Kildare; Galvia Hospital, Co Galway; and St Joseph's Hospital, Sligo.
A VHI spokesman said all private hospitals had now agreed to participate in the full cover scheme.
In a separate development, discussions have begun between the independent hospitals and the VHI to try to regularise their future relationship.
Mr Michael Heavey, spokesman for the Independent Hospitals' Association of Ireland, said discussions between the parties were just starting.
He added that in the High Court case settlement the right of the hospitals to pursue any future claims was not prejudiced.