Health Management Earnings Fall on Bad Debt

While HCA was enjoying the largest leveraged buyout ever, HMA — Health Management Associates Inc. ? isn?t having nearly as good a week.

As reported in a Reuters story, Health Management shares fell about 10 percent in the first half of 2006. And in the second quarter? Not much better: HMA reported today that it?s reporting even lower second quarter earnings ? due, in no small part, to a hefty amount of unpaid medical bills and a slow-down in patient admissions.