AUGUSTA (AP) – The Maine State Chamber of Commerce has gone to court to challenge this year’s $48.7 million savings offset payment by health insurers to support the state-sponsored Dirigo Health program.

The chamber said the lawsuit filed Thursday in Kennebec County Superior Court is similar to those filed in past years.

The supreme court upheld the funding mechanism in May 2007, but state lawmakers imposed a beverage tax last spring in hopes of providing a stable funding source.

The No on 1 Coalition, which supports the beverage tax, is fighting an effort to repeal the tax on Nov. 4. The coalition said in a statement Friday that the chamber’s lawsuit, if successful, could eliminate funding for Dirigo.