AUGUSTA (AP) – The Dirigo Health Agency’s board voted Tuesday to collect from insurance companies nearly $44 million in assessments resulting from health savings, enough to extend insurance coverage to 23,000 Mainers next year.

The board voted 4-1 to make the assessments based on savings achieved through Dirigo Health initiatives. The money will fund Dirigo’s program, which extends coverage to uninsured and underinsured Mainers.

Assessments to be made beginning next year represent 2.4 percent of paid claims, the board said after its vote.

Gov. John Baldacci, who champions the Dirigo program, said its programs have resulted in demonstrated savings in the state’s health system, and those savings are being used to extend coverage to more people.

Individuals and sole proprietors who have been on a waiting list to join Dirigo will be allowed in starting in January.

“Our job is to cover the uninsured,” said Dr. Robert McAfee, chairman of the Dirigo Health Agency board. “We are about making affordable coverage available to Mainers. This vote will allow us to do so.”

Some insurance companies have said they will increase premiums to make up for the assessments they must pay, prompting a strong protest earlier this month from Baldacci.

On Tuesday, the Dirigo board expressed similar concerns and said it expects payments to come from health-system savings and not passed on to premium payers. The board also decided to create a working group to propose ways assure that the so-called savings offset payments come from recaptured savings and not increased premiums.

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