On March 18, 2014, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period that implements changes to the payment adjustment for low-volume hospitals and to the Medicare-dependent hospital (MDH) program for fiscal year 2014 in accordance with the Pathway for SGR Reform Act of 2013. The rule, which applies to discharges on October 1, 2013 through March 31, 2014, is estimated to increase Medicare inpatient prospective payment systems (IPPS) payments to these hospitals by an additional 0.24%, or $227 million.  Comments on the rule will be accepted until May 13, 2014.