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Leading the legislative charge on behalf of teaching hospitals, BWHPresident Jeffrey Otten was in Washington D.C. last week meeting with keyUnited States senators to discuss the impact of Balanced Budget Act (BBA)cuts on Medicare. Otten, who also serves as Chairman of the Massachusetts HospitalAssociation, met with 11 key senators as part of Teaching Hospital AdvocacyDay sponsored by the American Hospital Association and the AmericanAssociation of Medical Colleges. Seeking support for efforts to reverse BBA cuts, Otten discussed the devastating impacton hospitals like BWH. "The results of our meetings wereencouraging," said Otten. "It is clear that teachinghospitals are making their case in Washington. While thereis still a great deal to do, we are very pleased with the progress.Momentum is beginning to build in support of hospitals who have been sonegatively impacted by the BBA." In particular, Otten cited the strong and consistent support of SenatorEdward Kennedy of Massachusetts. At the meeting, Senator William Frist(R-TN), a member of the Medicare Commission and a key voice in the Medicaredebate, expressed his first public support for teaching hospital relief. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts,Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, and Senator Arlen Specter ofPennsylvania joined other notable legislators in their support of teaching hospitals. Otten expressed his appreciation to BWH staff and employees who have sentin postcards to senators, congressmen, and President Clinton as part of the Caregivers for BBA Relief campaign. To date, nearly 700 postcards have beensent from BWH. Additional postcards are still available through the Public Affairs Office at ext. 5008.