Hospitals and other healthcare organizations spent more than $3.6 million on lobbying in Maryland during the first half of the year, according to an analysis by governmental accountability advocate Common Cause Maryland. Healthcare spent more than any other industry--utility and energy followed by spending about $1.9 million. After reviewing lobbying reports to the State Ethics Commission for the six months ending April 30, the Maryland Hospital Association emerged as the main spender, shelling out more than $380,000. Common Cause explained the hefty expenditures could partly stem from the rollout of new national healthcare requirements. Announcement