In a March 2 speech to the Federation of American Hospitals, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Bill Thomas (R-CA) said he wants the committee to investigate the benefits tax exempt groups give taxpayers, and consider whether more specific requirements should be imposed in exchange for exempt status. A committee spokesman said nothing has been scheduled. Thomas’ speech raised the issue of similar activities by nonprofit and for-profit entities, such as credit unions and banks, saying, “Frankly there’s been a lot of activity over the last decade in the tax-preferred area -- the 501(c)(3)s, (c)(4)s, (c)(6)s -- that requires a broader examination of just what is it the taxpayers are getting for their money.” He said the issue was raised recently in a dispute between the American Hospital Association and the Department of Health and Human Services over hospital charges to uninsured patients. A committee spokesman said the scope of any inquiry would be broad, and not confined to credit unions and hospitals.