HMA earnings rise

NAPLES — Hospital operator Health Management Associates reported net income rose 9% to $30.8 million in the fourth quarter compared with the same quarter one year ago on total revenues of $1.58 billion.

HMA's revenues from hospitals it has owned for at least one year rose 5.5% to $1.42 billion in the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31 compared with the same quarter in 2010. In addition, over the same period, hospital admissions rose 6.8% and surgeries rose 0.8%.

HMA President and CEO Gary Newsome attributed the improving results to increased physician recruitment and partnerships in addition to effective cost controls. Uncompensated patient care was flat at about 25% of net revenue.