The response of Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) has drawn the battle lines over the Medicare reimbursement and pay-for-performance legislation.

As we reported yesterday, AMA demanded that Congress reverse the payment cut as a condition of supporting healthcare quality reform. Now the Chair of House Ways and Means Committee fired back, saying he will block the pay raise if AMA does not support pay-for-performance first. So they are locked in a staring contest, saying "you give in first".

Rep. Bill Thomas is the man to reckon with. He has shown many times where the buck stops on budget legislation, even defying President Bush on his Social Security proposal. The advocates of healthcare quality reform are fortunate to have him on their side. With that said, AMA is still likely to win the payment increase.

Source: CongressDaily, 12/8, by the way of iHealthBeat.