According to Corlette, an additional $105 million will be available to Boston area teaching hospitals because of the action. These hospitals make up the bulk of teaching hospitals in the state.
"Last year at this point, we were hopeful. But when we heard the news we were overjoyed," Corlette says. "It was not all we had asked for but it was very well received."
Because the legislation has just been passed, the funding has not been redirected yet, Watson said. However, when allocated, it will be used throughout the hospitals' budgets, she said.
Davis praised Kennedy's involvement in this legislation.
"He just kept pushing and pushing and didn't let it die on the vine," she said.
The current legislation provides relief for fiscal years 2000-2002, but officials are unaware of ramifications beyond that point.
But one thing is certain, officials say: legislators are now by and large convinced of the important role that teaching hospitals play in medical education.
"There needs to be a longer term solution to this problem," Corlette said. "But somebody has to pay for the public good. No one has offered a solution to that. That is our challenge for the future," she added.