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 *
DAUTEN KENT P
  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)
520 LAKE COOK ROAD, SUITE 650
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
01/01/2012
(Street)

DEERFIELD, IL 60015
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 01/01/2012   M   3,750 A $ 0 465,763 D (1)  

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) $ 18.56             05/20/2007 05/19/2013 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 1,250 (2)   1,250 (2) D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 22.77             05/18/2008 05/17/2014 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 5,000 (2)   5,000 (2) D  
Stock Option (Right to Buy) $ 24.75             05/24/2009 05/23/2015 Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 5,000 (2)   5,000 (2) D  
Deferred Stock Award $ 0 01/01/2012   M     3,750 (3)   (3)   (3) Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 3,750 (3) $ 0 11,250 (3) D  
Deferred Stock Award $ 0 01/01/2012   A   19,674 (4)     (4)   (4) Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value 19,674 (4) $ 0 19,674 (4) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
DAUTEN KENT P
520 LAKE COOK ROAD, SUITE 650
DEERFIELD, IL 60015
  X      

Signatures

 /s/ Gary S. Bryant, Attorney-in-fact for Kent P. Dauten   01/04/2012
**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) Certain of these shares are owned jointly by Mr. Dauten and his wife.
(2) This option was previously reported by Mr. Dauten.
(3) This deferred stock award granted under the Issuer's Amended and Restated 1996 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan was previously reported by Mr. Dauten and, except as otherwise provided in the award notice, vests 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date subject to continuous service as a member of the board of directors.
(4) This deferred stock award was granted under the Issuer's Amended and Restated 1996 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3 and, except as otherwise provided in the award notice, vests 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date subject to continuous service as a member of the board of directors.

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