"A year into a new effort to expand health coverage, recession-weary Marylanders are flocking to the state's Medicaid program in numbers far greater than expected, costing the state $50 million more in the process," The Baltimore Sun reports. "As of this week, 44,255 additional state residents had enrolled in Maryland's Medicaid system after income limits were significantly relaxed, outpacing projections that enrollment would increase by 26,605." Health advocates say "the state is doing the right thing by expanding publicly funded health care to adults who have children," but "increased enrollment has also enlarged the price tag." And "while the federal government picks up half the cost, the higher expenses come as Maryland is battling severe budget shortfalls…