About 40 Massachusetts hospitals are on track to receive relief payments from the state, including some facilities that are facing severe financial difficulties and serve a large volume of patients on public insurance, according to estimates from a state agency.

The latest $234 million spending bill (H 4530) to clear the Legislature directs $122 million to acute care hospitals based on criteria including their public payer mix; their "relative price," which the Center for Health Information and Analysis uses as a metric to compare average provider prices; and their operating margin.

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Gov. Maura Healey signed the bill Monday, spokesperson Karissa Hand told the News Service.

Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodr

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