Health Management Associates Sees Q4 EPS Ex-Items of $0.25-0.26 vs $0.18 Est

Health Management Associates, Inc. (NYSE: HMA) announced today its expected results of operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.

From continuing operations for the fourth quarter, Health Management expects to report net revenue of approximately $1.58 billion, Adjusted EBITDA of between $231 and $236 million, and diluted earnings per share attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. of between $0.25 and $0.26 excluding certain writes-offs of deferred debt issuance costs, Tennova restructuring charges, and interest rate swap accounting, as shown in the table accompanying this press release. Included in these results is approximately $38 to $39 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, of reductions in expense related to Medicare/Medicaid HCIT meaningful use reimbursement offset by approximately $4 to $6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, of incremental legal and investigation related expenses incurred during the quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a GAAP measure. From continuing same hospital operations, compared to the prior year's fourth quarter, Health Management expects surgeries to increase 0.5% to 1.0%, adjusted admissions to decline 1.0% to 1.5%, and admissions to decline 3.5% to 4.0%.

From continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2011, Health Management expects to report net revenue of approximately $5.8 billion, and diluted EPS attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc., excluding write-offs of deferred debt issuance costs, swap accounting, and certain restructuring, acquisition and investigation costs of between $0.85 and $0.86