HMA profit falls

NAPLES — Health Management Associates, the Naples-based operator of 70 hospitals, says profit fell in the third quarter on higher expenses.

Health Management reported net income fell 5% to $41.3 million on net revenue of $1.4 billion in the third quarter compared with the same quarter one year ago. The profit decline was due in large part to higher expenses, including a charge for interest-rate swaps.

In addition, Hurricane Isaac affected Health Management's Florida and Mississippi hospital admissions. The company says admissions at hospitals opened longer than one year fell 6.4% in the third quarter.