Health Management Associates, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

NAPLES, Fla., July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Health Management Associates, Inc. announced today that, excluding one-time and non- recurring revenue and expense items associated with hurricane insurance settlements, gains on sales of assets and a refinement to its process for estimating its provision for doubtful accounts, net patient service revenue for its third quarter ended June 30, 2005 grew 14.3% to $934.3 million, up $117.0 million from $817.3 million for the same quarter a year ago, net income for the quarter was $96.8 million, up 8.4% compared to the same quarter a year ago, and earnings per share (diluted) for the quarter were $0.39, up 8.3% compared to $0.36 per share for the same quarter a year ago. After giving effect to the one-time, non-recurring revenue and expense items described above, net revenue for HMA's third quarter grew 16.6% to $953.3 million, up $136.0 million, from $817.3 million for the same quarter a year ago, net income for the quarter was $86.8 million, a $2.5 million decrease from $89.3 million for the comparable quarter a year ago, and earnings per share (diluted) for the quarter were $0.35, down 2.8% from the same quarter a year ago.

One-time and non-recurring revenue items included $4.1 million of gains from insurance claim recoveries for renovations and equipment replacement related to the impact of hurricane Charley that struck Charlotte Regional Medical Center and the greater Punta Gorda, Florida area in August 2004. The amount of insurance recovery recognized for the quarter is based upon claim payments received to date. We are continuing to work with our insurance carrier on the audit of the claim, and once finalized, HMA believes additional recoveries are expected. Also included in net revenue are $14.9 million of gains resulting from the sale of a hospital building and land in Jackson, Mississippi, and two home health agencies. These transactions were completed during the third quarter ended June 30, 2005.

Effective June 30, 2005, HMA refined its bad debt reserve accounting policy for self-pay accounts. HMA's previous bad debt reserve policy was to reserve all self-pay accounts at 150 days. HMA's policy is now to reserve all self-pay accounts at 120 days. This is an enhancement of HMA's policy and reflects the increase in volumes from underinsured and uninsured patients that have been experienced both by the hospital industry as a whole and HMA. While HMA believes that the rate of increase in underinsured and uninsured patients has moderated in some markets, HMA does not believe that the higher level of underinsured and uninsured patients will revert to previous levels. Accordingly, and in light of this continuing industry trend, HMA believes that reserving self-pay accounts at 120 days is preferable to 150 days. This enhancement of HMA's policy required an increase in the provision for doubtful accounts of $35.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2005. This enhancement also contributed to lowering HMA's Days Sales Outstanding to 65 days as of June 30, 2005, a five-day reduction from the 70 days reported for the same period a year ago, and a six-day reduction when compared to March 31, 2005.

The net effect of the one-time and non-recurring revenue and expense items, taken together, is a reduction in pre-tax earnings of $16.3 million, which corresponds to a reduction in diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.04. Excluding these one-time and non-recurring revenue and expense items, pre-tax earnings from operations were $156.8 million, and diluted earnings per share from operations were $0.39 for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

Net patient service revenue at hospitals owned and operated by HMA for one year or more increased 5.1% during the third quarter. This represents HMA's 67th consecutive quarter of same hospital revenue growth. Factors contributing to HMA's revenue growth during the third quarter included a 2.3% increase in same hospital admissions and a 3.4% increase in same hospital adjusted admissions, which adjusts admissions for outpatient volume. HMA's continued focus on outpatient services contributed to the adjusted admissions increase. Outpatient services include, among other things, emergency room visits, which increased 5.0% during the third quarter, as compared to the same quarter a year ago. In addition, HMA's same hospital surgeries grew 7.2% compared to the same quarter a year ago. Overall, total admissions grew 10.7% in the third quarter as compared to the same quarter a year ago, reflecting the admissions contribution from hospitals acquired by HMA during the twelve months ended June 30, 2005.

Disruption caused by the hurricanes that made landfall in Florida during the quarter ended September 30, 2004 negatively affected normal seasonal volumes through the first two quarters of fiscal 2005. Volumes at HMA's Florida hospitals returned to pre-hurricane levels during the third quarter ended June 30, 2005. "Just weeks after Hurricane Charley made its devastating landfall in August 2004, HMA's Charlotte Regional Medical Center was operational and serving the community's needs, a testament to the hospital's leadership, employees and medical staff," said Joseph V. Vumbacco, President and Chief Executive Officer of HMA. "As anticipated, the community surrounding Charlotte Regional continues to recover, and we believe that it will emerge stronger than before. The return of patient volumes to pre- hurricane levels is just one indicator of that successful recovery, and we are pleased to continue serving this community."

HMA's same hospital EBITDA margin increased 50 basis points to 24.2% for the third quarter, up from 23.7% for the same period a year ago. EBITDA margin is defined as earnings margin, before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA does not represent cash flows from operations as defined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, commonly known as GAAP, and should not be considered as either an alternative to net income as an indicator of HMA's operating performance or as an alternative to cash flows as a measure of HMA's liquidity. Nevertheless, HMA believes that providing non-GAAP information regarding EBITDA is important for investors and other readers of HMA's financial statements, as it provides a measure of liquidity. In addition, EBITDA is commonly used as an analytical indicator within the health care industry and HMA's debt facilities contain covenants that use EBITDA in their calculations. Because EBITDA is not a measurement determined in accordance with GAAP and is thus susceptible to varying calculations, EBITDA, as presented, may not be directly comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. A table reconciling EBITDA to GAAP follows the financial statements included with this press release.

"Fundamentals at HMA's hospitals were solid for the third quarter ended June 30, 2005, and we are very pleased with the gains in admissions, surgeries and ER visits, all of which led to these good results," added Vumbacco. "Our recently acquired hospitals continue to meet or exceed our expectations as we invest the necessary capital, recruit physicians, and focus on the needs of the communities served by those hospitals. It bears repeating that the delivery of health care is locally driven. As such, HMA's effective local leadership, combined with the flexibility of a decentralized management approach and the stability of centralized financial controls, leverages HMA's hospitals' strengths to improve the quality of the health care they deliver in their communities."

For the nine-months ended June 30, 2005, excluding the one-time and non- recurring revenue and expense items described above, net patient service revenue was $2,673.9 million, up 11.1% compared to the same period a year ago, net income was $275.3 million, up 9.6% compared to the same period a year ago, and earnings per share (diluted) were $1.11, up 8.8% compared to the same period a year ago. After accounting for the one-time, non-recurring revenue and expense items described above, net revenue for HMA's nine months ended June 30, 2005 grew to $2,692.9 million, an increase of 11.8% or $285.1 million, when compared to the comparable nine-month period a year ago, net income for the nine-month period increased $14.2 million to $265.3 million, from $251.1 million in the same period a year ago, and earnings per share (diluted) increased 4.9% to $1.07 per share compared to $1.02 per share for the same period a year ago. For the nine months ended June 30, 2005, HMA recognized approximately $6.6 million of net income from business interruption insurance proceeds as a result of the hurricanes that impacted HMA's hospitals in 2004.

Business office operations exist in each of HMA's communities, further emphasizing HMA's decentralized management strategy. As a result, HMA patients have local resources available to assist them with financial counseling and timely eligibility evaluation for state and local assistance programs. Efforts to improve the qualification process for state and local assistance programs, as well as up-front collections, particularly for co-pays and deductibles, continue to be a priority for HMA. Cash flow from operations was $441.5 million for the nine-month period ended June 30, 2005, representing a 34.3% increase compared to the same period a year ago.

HMA and the rest of the hospital industry continue to witness increases in the volumes of underinsured and uninsured patients. While HMA believes that the growth rate of this segment of its patients is moderating, it nonetheless continues to grow. To the extent that employment rates increase due to an improving economy and better access to company-sponsored and more affordable health insurance becomes possible, the rate of growth in underinsured and uninsured patient volumes will likely continue to moderate. HMA's same hospital self-pay admissions increased to 7.0% of total admissions in the third quarter ended June 30, 2005 compared to 6.6% for the same quarter a year ago. Bad debt expense, before the one-time increase related to the bad debt policy refinement described above, was 7.5% for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, a decrease of 10 basis points from 7.6% for the same quarter a year ago. HMA's charity care/indigent write offs were $147.2 million during the quarter, compared to $105.9 million for the same period a year ago.

Flexible and appropriate staffing are necessary to address changing levels of occupancy and patient acuity at HMA's hospitals. Once again, HMA's Chief Nursing Officers, or CNOs, effectively managed their nursing staffs during the quarter ended June 30, 2005. Both nursing turnover and vacancy rates remain below 10%, and same hospital salaries and benefits expense declined 125 basis points to 36.7% of same hospital net revenue for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, as compared to the same quarter a year ago. "HMA continues to focus its operating strategy on adapting to ever changing levels of patient volumes and acuity by maintaining appropriate hospital staffing levels," stated Vumbacco. "HMA's CNOs have once again demonstrated their leadership abilities by managing their resources to provide quality care."

On April 1, 2005, HMA completed the acquisition of the 56-bed Bartow Regional Medical Center, located in Bartow, Florida, from LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Located in a growing area of south central Florida, Bartow Regional represents HMA's 17th hospital in the state and generates approximately $33 million of annual net revenue. Bartow Regional serves a market area of approximately 50,000 residents and is strategically located in an area with a proven demographic need. HMA's proprietary Pulse System(R) was installed and operational in Bartow Regional prior to the completion of this transaction. "The Bartow Regional acquisition has been a natural fit for HMA's non-urban acquisition strategy. It's an attractive facility located in a growing non- urban area of Florida with which we are very familiar," said Vumbacco. "Already having a presence in south-central Florida with HMA hospitals in Dade City and the greater Haines City communities made the initial integration of Bartow Regional that much more successful. In addition, prior to completing this transaction, HMA already had positive relationships with several Bartow Regional physicians. Bartow Regional is currently exceeding our expectations."

On May 3, 2005, HMA's Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.04 per share, which was paid on June 6, 2005 to stockholders of record as of May 13, 2005. HMA believes that its dividend policy is another indication of its financial strength and prospects, and further differentiates HMA from other companies in its industry.

HMA's senior management team will discuss HMA's performance in greater detail during a live conference call and audio webcast later this morning. All interested investors are invited to access the webcast at 11:00 a.m. EDT, via HMA's website at http://www.hma-corp.com/ or via http://www.streetevents.com/ or to join the conference call by dialing 877-476-3476 (U.S.). The conference call and audio webcast will be archived on HMA's website under the "Investor Relations" section.

HMA is the premier operator of non-urban general acute care hospitals in communities situated throughout the United States. HMA has generated 16 years of uninterrupted operating earnings growth and operates 57 hospitals in 16 states with approximately 8,310 licensed beds.

All references to "HMA" used in this release refer to Health Management Associates, Inc. or its affiliates.

Certain statements contained in this release, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "expects," "optimistic," and words of similar import, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may include projections of revenues, income or loss, capital expenditures, capital structure, or other financial items, statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations, statements of future economic performance, statements of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing statements, and other statements which are other than statements of historical fact.

Statements made throughout this release are based on current estimates of future events, and HMA has no obligation to update or correct these estimates. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially as a result of these various factors.

(financial tables attached) HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (unaudited, in thousands except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2005 2004 2005 2004 Net patient service revenue $934,264 $817,341 $2,673,893 $2,407,801 Gains on sales of assets and insurance recoveries 19,039 -- 19,039 -- Total revenue 953,303 817,341 2,692,932 2,407,801 Costs and expenses: Salaries and benefits 356,072 315,776 1,041,608 943,922 Supplies and other 288,764 239,087 809,795 711,395 Provision for doubtful accounts 105,412 62,514 232,071 180,179 Depreciation and amortization 39,113 34,030 113,050 99,413 Rent expense 19,689 16,540 54,465 49,386 Interest, net 2,852 3,640 9,885 12,802 Total costs and expenses 811,902 671,587 2,260,874 1,997,097 Income before minority interests and income taxes 141,401 145,754 432,058 410,704 Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities 838 1,580 2,399 4,115 Income before income taxes 140,563 144,174 429,659 406,589 Provision for income taxes 53,791 54,891 164,372 155,520 Net Income $86,772 $89,283 $265,287 $251,069 Net income per share: Basic $0.35 $0.37 $1.08 $1.04 Diluted $0.35 $0.36 $1.07 $1.02 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 246,785 243,175 245,172 242,488 Diluted 250,653 247,136 248,925 246,901 EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATION Net income $86,772 $89,283 $265,287 $251,069 Add: Interest from convertible debt, net of taxes -- -- 1 -- Adjusted net income $86,772 $89,283 $265,288 $251,069 Basic shares outstanding 246,785 243,175 245,172 242,488 Add: Employee stock options 3,863 3,961 3,747 4,413 Convertible shares 5 -- 6 -- Diluted shares outstanding 250,653 247,136 248,925 246,901 Diluted earnings per share $0.35 $0.36 $1.07 $1.02 HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands) (unaudited) June 30, September 30, 2005 2004 (unaudited) Assets Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $109,211 $112,946 Accounts receivable, net 668,481 626,149 Other current assets 219,503 202,499 Property, plant and equipment, net 1,984,829 1,692,701 Restricted funds 76,960 55,942 Other assets 931,062 817,051 $3,990,046 $3,507,288 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities $349,074 $320,131 Deferred income taxes 182,380 143,760 Other long-term liabilities and minority interests 168,402 139,869 Long-term debt 1,004,286 925,518 Stockholders' equity 2,285,904 1,978,010 $3,990,046 $3,507,288 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended June 30, June 30, 2005 2004 2005 2004 Same Hospitals Occupancy 45.9% 44.1% 48.0% 47.4% Patient Days 305,453 297,146 819,278 823,622 Admissions 70,917 69,327 190,578 190,182 Adjusted Admissions 118,792 114,885 307,970 302,376 Average length of stay 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 Total surgeries 64,658 60,308 168,067 161,099 Outpatient Revenue percentage 48.9% 48.3% 47.1% 46.6% Inpatient Revenue percentage 51.1% 51.7% 52.9% 53.4% Total Hospitals Occupancy 45.7% 45.4% 47.7% 48.3% Patient Days 345,231 312,639 1,033,473 983,321 Admissions 76,858 69,427 230,017 215,597 Adjusted Admissions 128,666 114,905 377,555 347,416 Average length of stay 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.6 Total surgeries 70,006 60,308 198,032 179,614 Outpatient Revenue percentage 49.8% 48.7% 47.6% 47.5% Inpatient Revenue percentage 50.2% 51.3% 52.4% 52.5% HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME INFORMATION (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, 2005 (a) 2004 Total revenue $953,303 $817,341 Less acquisitions, corporate and other 103,711 9,227 Same hospital net patient service revenue $849,592 $808,114 Income before income taxes $140,563 $144,174 Add: Interest, net 2,852 3,640 Depreciation and amortization 39,113 34,030 EBITDA 182,528 181,844 Adjustment for acquisitions, corporate and other (23,454) (9,712) Same hospital EBITDA $205,982 $191,556 Same hospital EBITDA margins = Same hospital EBITDA / same hospital net patient service revenue 24.2% 23.7% (a) includes $19.0 million of one-time and non-recurring revenue from insurance recoveries and gains on the sale of assets and $35.3 million in additional bad debt expense associated with a refinement in the company's bad debt policy. These items are not included in the same hospital figures. HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME INFORMATION (in thousands) (unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Adjusted 2005 Adjustments 2005 Net patient service revenue $934,264 $ -- $934,264 Gains on sales of assets and insurance recoveries 19,039 (19,039) -- Total revenue 953,303 (19,039) 934,264 Costs and expenses: Salaries and benefits 356,072 -- 356,072 Supplies and other 288,764 -- 288,764 Provision for doubtful accounts 105,412 (35,306) 70,106 Depreciation and amortization 39,113 -- 39,113 Rent expense 19,689 -- 19,689 Interest, net 2,852 -- 2,852 Total costs and expenses 811,902 (35,306) 776,596 Income before minority interests and income taxes 141,401 16,267 157,668 Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities 838 -- 838 Income before income taxes 140,563 16,267 156,830 Provision for income taxes 53,791 6,222 60,013 Net Income $86,772 $10,045 $96,817 Net income per share: Basic $0.35 $0.04 $0.39 Diluted $0.35 $0.04 $0.39 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 246,785 -- 246,785 Diluted 250,653 -- 250,653 EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATION Net income $86,772 $10,045 $96,817 Add: Interest from convertible debt, net of taxes -- -- -- Adjusted net income $86,772 $10,045 $96,817 Basic shares outstanding 246,785 -- 246,785 Add: Employee stock options 3,863 -- 3,863 Convertible shares 5 -- 5 Diluted shares outstanding 250,653 -- 250,653 Diluted earnings per share $0.35 $0.04 $0.39 HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME INFORMATION (in thousands) (unaudited) Nine Months Ended June 30, Adjusted 2005 Adjustments 2005 Net patient service revenue $2,673,893 $ -- $2,673,893 Gains on sales of assets and insurance recoveries 19,039 (19,039) -- Total revenue 2,692,932 (19,039) 2,673,893 Costs and expenses: Salaries and benefits 1,041,608 -- 1,041,608 Supplies and other 809,795 -- 809,795 Provision for doubtful accounts 232,071 (35,306) 196,765 Depreciation and amortization 113,050 -- 113,050 Rent expense 54,465 -- 54,465 Interest, net 9,885 -- 9,885 Total costs and expenses 2,260,874 (35,306) 2,225,568 Income before minority interests and income taxes 432,058 16,267 448,325 Minority interests in earnings of consolidated entities 2,399 -- 2,399 Income before income taxes 429,659 16,267 445,926 Provision for income taxes 164,372 6,222 170,594 Net Income $265,287 $10,045 $275,332 Net income per share: Basic $1.08 $0.04 $1.12 Diluted $1.07 $0.04 $1.11 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 245,172 -- 245,172 Diluted 248,925 -- 248,925 EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATION Net income $265,287 $10,045 $275,332 Add: Interest from convertible debt, net of taxes 1 -- 1 Adjusted net income $265,288 $10,045 $275,333 Basic shares outstanding 245,172 -- 245,172 Add: Employee stock options 3,747 -- 3,747 Convertible shares 6 -- 6 Diluted shares outstanding 248,925 -- 248,925 Diluted earnings per share $1.07 $0.04 $1.11