Friday marked the halfway point of the 2020 legislative session. Last week, MHA testified in support of three top hospital priorities: raising the standards for expert witness testimony in medical liability cases, expanding access points for people in a behavioral health crisis beyond emergency departments, and reducing the Medicaid Deficit Assessment. This week, the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) recommended the General Assembly remove Governor Hogan’s $15 million reduction to the Medicaid Deficit Assessment in the state’s fiscal year 2021 budget. DLS further recommended the state maintain the assessment at its current level indefinitely.