BOSTON (SHNS) - 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.

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

Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues said last week that some hospitals are at risk of defa

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