{"id":2527462,"date":"2025-12-31T15:27:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T20:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maryland-looks-to-ai-as-snap-rules-tighten\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T15:31:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T20:31:54","slug":"maryland-looks-to-ai-as-snap-rules-tighten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/maryland-looks-to-ai-as-snap-rules-tighten\/","title":{"rendered":"Maryland looks to AI as SNAP rules tighten"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmaryland-looks-to-ai-as-snap-rules-tighten%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2527462&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Maryland officials are piloting artificial intelligence tools to help manage parts of the state&#8217;s food assistance (SNAP) and Medicaid programs after receiving more than $2.6 million in federal grants over two years to modernize public services. The multi\u2011agency effort &#8211; led by the Maryland Department of Human Services with the Department of Health, Maryland benefits and the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange &#8211; will develop and test AI tools (including for work\u2011verification tasks) that could later be rolled out more widely.<\/p>\n<p>The push comes as federal changes in H.R.1 expand work requirements and shift more program costs to states. Under the new law,states must cover 75% of SNAP administrative costs rather of the prior 50\/50 split; Maryland currently spends about $115 million a year and estimates that its share would rise by roughly $57.5 million to about $172.5 million annually.<\/p>\n<p>The law also ties potential benefit cost\u2011sharing to payment error rates. Maryland&#8217;s SNAP payment error rate was 13.64% in fiscal 2024, and if that persists the state could be liable for up to 15% of benefit costs. Maryland expects to issue roughly $1.6 billion in SNAP benefits in 2026, meaning a 15% state share would be about $240 million. Combined with higher administrative costs, the state estimates total annual food\u2011assistance costs under the new framework could reach about $412.5 million &#8211; an increase of just over $300 million from current contributions.<\/p>\n<p>State officials emphasize the grants fund growth and testing over the next two years and have not claimed the AI tools will necessarily reduce costs or error rates; the work will explore how AI can complement existing systems.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Maryland looks to AI as SNAP rules tighten<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2459828\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maryland\/\">Maryland<\/a> officials say they are exploring how&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/artificial-intelligence\/\">artificial intelligence<\/a> could be used&nbsp;to support parts of the state&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">food assistance program<\/a> after the state&nbsp;was awarded&nbsp;federal grants aimed at modernizing public services.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wes-moore\/\">Wes Moore&rsquo;s<\/a> office announced Tuesday that Maryland secured more than $2.6 million in grants over two years to fund artificial intelligence projects across several state agencies. One of the projects focuses on developing tools to help streamline work verification for food assistance and Medicaid programs, according to the state.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4379171\/lawmaker-wants-alleged-ohio-child-care-fraud-investigated\/\">Lawmaker wants alleged Ohio child care fraud investigated<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4379173\/floridas-minimum-wage-rising-to-15-in-2026\/\">Florida&#8217;s minimum wage rising to $15 in 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4375511\/trump-veto-miccosukee-tribe-territory-expansion-everglades-alligator-alcatraz-opposition\/\">Trump vetoes law expanding Miccosukee tribe&#8217;s territory in Everglades after its opposition to &#8216;Alligator Alcatraz&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The effort is being led by the Maryland Department of Human Services, along with the Maryland Department of Health, Maryland Benefits&nbsp;and&nbsp;the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, as part of a multi-state project. State officials said the work will involve&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/governor.maryland.gov\/news\/press\/pages\/Maryland-Secures-AI-Grants-to-Strengthen-Delivery-of-Public-Services.aspx\">developing and testing AI tools<\/a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;could eventually be deployed&nbsp;more broadly.<\/p>\n<p>The rollout of the AI project comes as Maryland adjusts to recent federal changes to food assistance rules. Those changes stem from H.R. 1, a budget law signed earlier this year that expands work requirements and shifts a larger share of program costs to states.<\/p>\n<p>Under the new law, states&nbsp;are required&nbsp;to cover 75% of food assistance administrative costs, up from the previous 50% federal-state split. Maryland currently spends about $115 million a year on its share of administrative&nbsp;costs.&nbsp;Under the new cost-sharing structure, state estimates show&nbsp;that the&nbsp;amount&nbsp;would increase by roughly $57.5 million annually, bringing Maryland&rsquo;s total administrative costs to about $172.5 million&nbsp;per year.<\/p>\n<p>The law also allows for benefit cost-sharing tied to payment error rates. States with error rates above 6% may be required to contribute a portion of benefit costs.<\/p>\n<p>Federal data shows Maryland&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >food assistance payment error rate<\/a> was 13.64% in fiscal year 2024, one of the highest rates in the country. Based on current benefit levels, state estimates show Maryland could be responsible for up to 15% of benefit costs if the rate persists.<\/p>\n<p>Maryland is expecting to issue roughly&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/news.dhs.maryland.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/HR1-Summary-Table-Impact-on-MD-SNAP-07.02.2025-FINAL.pdf\">$1.6 billion<\/a>&nbsp;in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-biden-makes-misleading-claims-when-slamming-house-gop-debt-ceiling-proposal\/\" title=\"Fact check: Biden makes misleading cl...ms when slamming House GOP debt ceiling proposal\">food assistance benefits<\/a> in 2026. At a 15% state share, that would amount to approximately $240 million in benefit costs.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/finance-and-economy\/4365093\/what-expect-ai-2026\/\">WHAT TO EXPECT FOR AI IN 2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When combined with&nbsp;the&nbsp;higher administrative costs, state estimates show Maryland&rsquo;s total annual food assistance costs under the new federal framework could reach about $412.5 million, an increase of just over $300 million&nbsp;compared to what&nbsp;the state&nbsp;currently contributes.<\/p>\n<p>State officials have not said the artificial intelligence tools will reduce costs or error rates. The grants will fund development work over the next two years as Maryland tests how&nbsp;the tools could be used&nbsp;alongside existing systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Maryland gets $2.6M to pilot AI for SNAP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2869,"featured_media":2527463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iStock-2217957588-e1764857589332.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[51738,4837,11892],"class_list":["post-2527462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ai-2","tag-maryland","tag-snap"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/iStock-2217957588-e1764857589332.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527462","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2869"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2527462"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527462\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2527466,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2527462\/revisions\/2527466"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2527463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2527462"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2527462"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2527462"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}