Exhibit 99.1

Contact:	John C. Merriwether
	Vice President of Financial Relations
	Health Management Associates, Inc.
	(239) 598-3131

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END 2008 EARNINGS

Diluted Earnings per Share from Continuing Operations of $0.07

NAPLES, FLORIDA (February 23, 2009) Health Management Associates, Inc. (NYSE: HMA) today announced its consolidated financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. For the quarter, HMA reported net revenue of $1,111.8 million and earnings, before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gain on early extinguishment of debt, impairments of assets, and minority interests (“EBITDA”) of $146.7 million. Income from continuing operations was $29.0 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, and net income was $14.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share. Included in diluted EPS from continuing operations is a $26.4 million net gain from the early extinguishment of debt and a $6.2 million investment impairment. Excluding this gain and impairment, diluted EPS from continuing operations would have been $0.07, as shown in the tables accompanying this press release. Such tables also contain a reconciliation of income from continuing operations to EBITDA, which is not a GAAP measure, and contain other information regarding HMA’s use of EBITDA.

For continuing operations, compared to the prior year’s fourth quarter: net revenue increased 3.3%; net revenue per adjusted admission increased 2.1%; adjusted admissions (reflecting total admissions adjusted for outpatient volume) increased 1.1%; admissions decreased 0.2%, (excluding uninsured admissions, admissions increased 0.3%); emergency room visits decreased 2.2%; and surgeries decreased 2.3%. EBITDA from continuing hospital operations for the quarter was $175.5 million, which represented a margin of 15.8%.

“We are pleased with the operating improvements we generated in the fourth quarter and believe that we are beginning to experience some initial traction as a result of our renewed focus on emergency room operations, physician recruitment and market development,” said Gary D. Newsome, HMA’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are encouraged by the volume improvement we witnessed in the fourth quarter when compared to the second and third quarters of 2008. Together with the expense reductions already in place, we believe we can achieve the objectives we have set for 2009.”

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Health Management Associates, Inc./Page 2

During the fourth quarter, HMA repurchased in the open market $50.0 million of its 3.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2028. As a result, HMA recorded a $26.4 million net gain on the early extinguishment of debt. HMA has repurchased an additional $50.5 million of its 3.75% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2028 in the open market thus far during 2009. HMA expects to continue to purchase 2028 notes in the open market on an opportunistic basis. In 2008, HMA reduced its indebtedness by $522.5 million, representing approximately 14.0% of its outstanding debt as of January 1, 2008.

HMA’s provision for doubtful accounts, or bad debt expense, was $130.2 million, or 11.7% of net revenue, for the fourth quarter compared to $132.7 million, or 12.3% of net revenue, for the same quarter a year ago.

Uninsured discounts for the fourth quarter were $144.1 million, compared to $149.0 million for the same period a year ago, and $149.8 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008. Charity/indigent care write-offs for the quarter were $18.0 million, compared to $15.1 million for the same period a year ago and $25.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008. The sum of uninsured discounts, charity/indigent write-offs and bad debt expense, as a percent of the sum of net revenue, uninsured discounts and charity/indigent write-offs, was 22.9% for the fourth quarter, compared to 23.9% for the same quarter a year ago and 23.8% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2008.

Cash flow from continuing operating activities for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008 was $425.6 million, after cash interest and cash tax payments aggregating $275.6 million.

For the year ended December 31, 2008, HMA reported net revenue of $4,451.6 million, EBITDA of $633.6 million; income from continuing operations of $223.3 million, or $0.91 per diluted share, and net income of $167.2 million, or $0.68 per diluted share. Excluding gains on sales of assets, including minority interests, impairments of assets and gains on the early extinguishment of debt, income from continuing operations was $94.3 million and diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.39.

HMA’s management team will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss HMA’s fourth quarter and year-end consolidated financial results and the contents of this press release on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. EST. Investors are invited to access the webcast via HMA’s website located at www.hma.com or via www.streetevents.com. Alternatively, investors may join the conference call by dialing 877-476-3476. HMA will archive a copy of the audio webcast, along with any related information that HMA may be required to provide pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission rules, on its website under the heading “Investor Relations,” for a period of 60 days following the conference call.

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Health Management Associates, Inc./Page 3

HMA’s mission is the delivery of compassionate and high quality health care services that improve the quality of life for its patients, physicians, and the communities it serves. HMA owns and operates 56 hospitals, with approximately 8,000 licensed beds, in non-urban communities located throughout the United States. All references to “HMA” or the “Company” used in this release refer to Health Management Associates, Inc. or its affiliates.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions and are identified by words such as “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” and other similar words. All statements addressing operating performance, events, or developments that Health Management Associates, Inc. expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to projections of revenue, income or loss, capital expenditures, debt structure, bad debt expense, capital structure, other financial items, statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations, statements of future economic performance, statements of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing statements, and other statements which are other than statements of historical fact, are considered to be “forward-looking statements.”

Because they are forward-looking, such statements should be evaluated in light of important risk factors and uncertainties. These risk factors and uncertainties are more fully described in Health Management Associates, Inc.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the heading entitled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of Health Management Associates, Inc.’s underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. In addition, undue reliance should not be placed on Health Management Associates, Inc.’s forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Health Management Associates, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update or publicly announce any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

(financial tables follow)

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2008			2007			2008			2007
Net revenue	$	1,111,826		$	1,076,483		$	4,451,611		$	4,292,687
Operating expenses:
Salaries and benefits		462,417			438,303			1,828,258			1,717,677
Supplies		150,567			138,355			604,669			574,319
Provision for doubtful accounts		130,229			132,706			508,230			516,955
Depreciation and amortization		60,455			57,874			237,370			215,799
Rent expense		23,499			21,694			91,759			82,477
Other operating expenses		198,369			189,142			785,125			755,144
Total operating expenses		1,025,536			978,074			4,055,411			3,862,371
Income from operations		86,290			98,409			396,200			430,316
Other income (expense):
Gains (losses) on sales of assets, including minority equity interests, net		347			(1,014	)		211,501			2,514
Interest and other income (expense), net		(4,784	)		2,163			416			4,799
Interest expense		(56,462	)		(63,321	)		(238,749	)		(222,743	)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt, net		26,404			—			6,944			—
Deferred financing cost write-offs		—			—			(1,497	)		(761	)
Income from continuing operations before minority interest and income taxes		51,795			36,237			374,815			214,125
Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities		(5,254	)		(220	)		(16,008	)		(845	)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		46,541			36,017			358,807			213,280
Income tax expense		(17,498	)		(11,291	)		(135,505	)		(79,127	)
Income from continuing operations		29,043			24,726			223,302			134,153
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(14,494	)		(12,266	)		(56,077	)		(14,274	)
Net income	$	14,549		$	12,460		$	167,225		$	119,879
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic :
Continuing operations	$	0.12		$	0.10		$	0.92		$	0.56
Discontinued operations		(0.06	)		(0.05	)		(0.23	)		(0.06	)
Net income	$	0.06		$	0.05		$	0.69		$	0.50
Diluted :
Continuing operations	$	0.12		$	0.10		$	0.91		$	0.55
Discontinued operations		(0.06	)		(0.05	)		(0.23	)		(0.06	)
Net income	$	0.06		$	0.05		$	0.68		$	0.49
Dividends per share	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	10.00
Weighted average number of shares outstanding:
Basic		243,485			242,733			243,307			242,308
Add: Stock-based compensation arrangements		881			1,385			1,364			2,811
Diluted		244,366			244,118			244,671			245,119

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited, in thousands)

	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2008			2007
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	167,225		$	119,879
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by continuing operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		244,396			222,776
Provision for doubtful accounts		508,230			516,955
Stock-based compensation expense		18,226			18,402
Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities		16,008			845
Gains on sales of assets, including minority equity interests, net		(211,501	)		(2,514	)
Deferred financing cost write-offs		1,497			761
Gain on early extinguishment of debt, net		(6,944	)		—
Long-lived asset impairment charge		921			—
Other than temporary charge for available-for-sale securities		6,165			—
Deferred income tax expense		110,579			65,933
Changes in assets and liabilities of continuing operations:
Accounts receivable		(532,614	)		(543,507	)
Supplies and prepaid expenses		(10,592	)		1,796
Prepaid and recoverable income taxes and income taxes payable		52,295			(63,883	)
Deferred charges and other long-term assets		(5,114	)		(15,426	)
Accounts payable		29,660			8,595
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(13,849	)		(37,919	)
Other long-term liabilities		(5,100	)		19,403
Equity compensation excess income tax benefit		—			(273	)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		56,077			14,274
Net cash provided by continuing operating activities		425,565			326,097
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of minority interests and other		(8,526	)		(38,599	)
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(218,179	)		(267,415	)
Proceeds from sales of assets and insurance recoveries		17,712			32,196
Proceeds from sales of discontinued operations		18,166			70,000
(Increases) decreases in restricted funds, net		14,510			(10,674	)
Net cash used in continuing investing activities		(176,317	)		(214,492	)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt, net		244,471			2,707,608
Principal payments on debt and capital lease obligations		(766,930	)		(344,340	)
Proceeds from exercises of stock options		—			24,793
Payments of financing costs		(350	)		(3,277	)
Investments by minority shareholders		327,655			8,369
Cash distributions to minority shareholders		(4,285	)		(2,925	)
Payments of cash dividends		—			(2,425,001	)
Equity compensation excess income tax benefit		—			273
Net cash used in continuing financing activities		(199,439	)		(34,500	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents before discontinued operations		49,809			77,105
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents from discontinued operations:
Operating activities		(30,077	)		(14,954	)
Investing activities		201			(4,450	)
Financing activities		(306	)		(528	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents		19,627			57,173
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		123,987			66,814
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	143,614		$	123,987

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(unaudited, in thousands)

	December 31, 2008		December 31, 2007
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	143,614	$	123,987
Accounts receivable, net		631,744		627,879
Other current assets		257,638		287,404
Assets of discontinued operations		18,085		79,150
Property, plant and equipment, net		2,430,169		2,403,746
Restricted funds		37,117		76,179
Other assets		1,037,162		1,045,574
	$	4,555,529	$	4,643,919
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities	$	490,271	$	597,432
Deferred income taxes		77,474		70,457
Other long-term liabilities		491,036		308,210
Minority interests		155,558		20,223
Long-term debt		3,186,893		3,566,569
Stockholders’ equity		154,297		81,028
	$	4,555,529	$	4,643,919

	Three Months Ended December 31,				Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2008		2007		2008		2007
Total Hospitals *
Occupancy	44.4	%	44.0	%	44.9	%	45.0	%
Patient Days	323,897		320,962		1,314,609		1,313,029
Admissions	76,562		76,705		306,370		310,897
Adjusted Admissions	132,965		131,472		531,552		533,064
Average Length of Stay	4.2		4.2		4.3		4.2
Surgeries	67,898		69,473		275,951		279,563
Outpatient Revenue Percentage	47.3	%	49.1	%	48.2	%	48.9	%
Inpatient Revenue Percentage	52.7	%	50.9	%	51.8	%	51.1	%

* Continuing Operations

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME INFORMATION

(unaudited, in thousands)

	Three Months Ended December 31,						Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2008 (a)			2007 (a)			2008 (a)			2007 (a)
Net revenue	$	1,111,826		$	1,076,483		$	4,451,611		$	4,292,687
Less acquisitions, corporate and other		—			—			60,713			48,526
Same hospital net revenue	$	1,111,826		$	1,076,483		$	4,390,898		$	4,244,161
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	46,541		$	36,017		$	358,807		$	213,280
Adjustments:
(Gains) losses on sales of assets, including minority equity interests, net		(347	)		1,014			(211,501	)		(2,514	)
Interest and other income (expense), net		4,784			(2,163	)		(416	)		(4,799	)
Interest expense		56,462			63,321			238,749			222,743
Gain on early extinguishment of debt, net		(26,404	)		—			(6,944	)		—
Depreciation and amortization		60,455			57,874			237,370			215,799
Minority interest in earnings of consolidated entities		5,254			220			16,008			845
Deferred financing cost write-offs		—			—			1,497			761
EBITDA (b)		146,745			156,283			633,570			646,115
Adjustment for acquisitions, corporate and other		28,729			19,515			95,329			79,698
Same hospital EBITDA	$	175,474		$	175,798		$	728,899		$	725,813
Same hospital EBITDA margins =
Same hospital EBITDA / same hospital net revenue (b)		15.8	%		16.3	%		16.6	%		17.1	%

(a) Continuing operations.

(b) EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest expense, net interest and other income (expense), deferred financing cost write-offs, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, (gains) losses on sales of assets, minority interests, and net gain on early extinguishment of debt. EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA divided by net revenue. EBITDA does not represent cash flows from operations as defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, commonly known as GAAP, and should not be considered as either an alternative to net income or as an indicator of HMA’s operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of HMA’s liquidity. Nevertheless, HMA believes that providing non-GAAP information regarding EBITDA is important for investors and other readers of HMA’s financials statements, as it provides a measure of HMA’s liquidity. In addition, EBITDA is commonly used as an analytical indicator within the health care industry and HMA’s debt facilities contain covenants that use EBITDA in their calculations. Because EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA, as presented, may not be directly comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies.

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME INFORMATION

(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following tables provide information regarding income from continuing operations, excluding the impact of gains on sales of certain assets and minority interests, gain on early extinguishment of debt and investment impairment. These tables are a non-GAAP presentation; nonetheless, HMA believes that providing this detail is beneficial to investors and other readers of HMA’s financial statements due to the significant impact these items had on income from continuing operations.

Three Months Ended December 31, 2008

	Continuing Operations			Gain on Early Extinguishment of Debt			Investment Impairment			Total, As Reported
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	26,302		$	26,404		$	(6,165	)	$	46,541
Income tax expense		(9,825	)		(9,769	)		2,096			(17,498	)
Income from continuing operations	$	16,477		$	16,635		$	(4,069	)	$	29,043
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.07		$	0.07		$	(0.02	)	$	0.12
Diluted	$	0.07		$	0.07		$	(0.02	)	$	0.12

Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2008

	Continuing Operations			Gain on Early Extinguishment of Debt			Investment Impairment			Gains on Sales of Certain Assets and Minority Interests			Total, As Reported
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	148,524		$	6,944		$	(6,165	)	$	209,504		$	358,807
Income tax expense		(54,207	)		(2,569	)		2,096			(80,825	)		(135,505	)
Income from continuing operations	$	94,317		$	4,375		$	(4,069	)	$	128,679		$	223,302
Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.39		$	0.02		$	(0.02	)	$	0.53		$	0.92
Diluted	$	0.39		$	0.02		$	(0.02	)	$	0.52		$	0.91

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