Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
LAWSON PETER M
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES INC [HMA] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC., 5811 PELICAN BAY BOULEVARD, SUITE 500		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/30/2006
(Street)

NAPLES, FL 34108		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 12/27/2005   G V 1,000 D $ 0 21,238 D  
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 01/30/2006   A   50,000 (1) A $ 0 71,238 D  
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value               16,830 D (2)  
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value               600 I (3) Trusts for benefit of children (3)
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value               4,939 I 401(k) Plan

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 21.625             05/19/2002 05/18/2008 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 45,000 (4)   45,000 (4) D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 16.6             05/15/2005 05/14/2011 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 25,000 (4)   25,000 (4) D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 19.95               (5) 05/20/2012 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 15,000 (5)   15,000 (5) D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 18.56               (6) 05/19/2013 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 22,500 (6)   22,500 (6) D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 22.77               (7) 05/17/2014 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 40,000 (7)   40,000 (7) D  
Contingent Stock Award $ 0             12/04/2006 12/04/2006 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 6,631 (8)   6,631 (8) D  
Contingent Stock Award $ 0             12/03/2007 12/03/2007 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 10,508 (8)   10,508 (8) D  
Contingent Stock Award $ 0             12/08/2008 12/08/2008 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 13,175 (8)   13,175 (8) D  
Contingent Stock Award $ 0             12/07/2009 12/07/2009 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 6,914 (8)   6,914 (8) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
LAWSON PETER M
HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
5811 PELICAN BAY BOULEVARD, SUITE 500
NAPLES, FL 34108		       Executive Vice President  

Signatures

 /s/ Peter M. Lawson   01/30/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) This restricted stock award was granted under the Issuer's 1996 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 and is subject to forfeiture if certain vesting conditions are not met.
(2) These shares are held jointly by Mr. Lawson and his wife.
(3) These shares are held in trusts, of which Mr. Lawson and his wife serve as co-trustees, for the benefit of their children.
(4) This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Lawson.
(5) This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Lawson. Mr. Lawson can exercise this option as follows: 7,500 shares on 5/21/03 (exercised on 11/15/04), 7,500 shares on 5/21/04 (exercised on 2/9/05), 7,500 shares on 5/21/05, and 7,500 shares on 5/21/06.
(6) This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Lawson. Mr. Lawson can exercise this option as follows: 7,500 shares on 5/20/04 (exercised on 2/9/05), 7,500 shares on 5/20/05, 7,500 shares on 5/20/06, and 7,500 shares on 5/20/07.
(7) This employee stock option was previously reported by Mr. Lawson. Mr. Lawson can exercise this option as follows: 10,000 shares on 5/18/05, 10,000 shares on 5/18/06, 10,000 shares on 5/18/07, and 10,000 shares on 5/18/08.
(8) This contingent stock incentive award under the Issuer's 1996 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan was previously reported by Mr. Lawson.

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