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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * MAYBERRY WILLIAM E   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES INC [HMA] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 826 RUE DE VILLE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/01/2009 (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 01/01/2009   A(1)   12,000 (1) A $ 0 35,925 D   Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value               5,062 (2) I By The W.E. Mayberry Trust (2)

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)

$ 19.95

05/21/2006

05/20/2012

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value

5,000 (3)

5,000 (3)

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 18.56

05/20/2007

05/19/2013

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value

5,000 (3)

5,000 (3)

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 22.77

05/18/2008

05/17/2014

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value

5,000 (3)

5,000 (3)

D

Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 24.75

(4)

05/23/2015

Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value

5,000 (4)

5,000 (4)

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
MAYBERRY WILLIAM E 826 RUE DE VILLE NAPLES, FL 34108	X

Signatures

/s/ Gary S. Bryant, Attorney-in-fact for William E. Mayberry		01/05/2009
**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 2006 Outside Director Restricted Stock Award Plan, as amended, in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 and is subject to forfeiture if certain vesting conditions are not met.
(2)	All of the shares are owned by The W.E. Mayberry Trust u/a/d 10/26/92. Dr. Mayberry is the Trustee and Settlor of the Trust. During his lifetime, he is the sole beneficiary. Upon his death, his wife is the beneficiary. As Trustee, Dr. Mayberry has the sole power to dispose of all shares held by the Trust, and as Settlor, he has the sole power to revoke the Trust at any time.
(3)	This option was previously reported by Dr. Mayberry.
(4)	This option was previoulsy reported by Dr. Mayberry. Dr. Mayberry can exercise this option as follows: 1,250 shares on 5/24/06, 1,250 shares on 5/24/07, 1,250 shares on 5/24/08, and 1,250 shares on 5/24/09.

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