Restatement And Revision Of Previously Reported Consolidated Financial Statements (Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net revenue before the provision for doubtful accounts	$ 1,676,679	$ 1,662,937	[1]	$ 5,100,474	$ 5,033,496	[1]
Provision for doubtful accounts	(255,436)	(224,078)	[1]	(729,695)	(639,902)	[1]
Net revenue	1,421,243	1,438,859	[1]	4,370,779	4,393,594	[1]
Salaries and benefits	655,839	637,305	[1]	2,013,515	1,941,475	[1]
Supplies	220,522	216,819	[1]	689,034	677,416	[1]
Rent expense	40,493	41,807	[1]	125,706	130,521	[1]
Other operating expenses	371,392	332,356	[1]	1,043,982	970,613	[1]
Medicare and Medicaid HCIT incentive program	(2,015)	(24,224)	[1]	(23,607)	(29,875)	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	99,351	91,563	[1]	289,595	255,575	[1]
Interest expense	70,747	76,916	[1]	212,352	241,049	[1]
Other		(2,363)	[1]		(1,745)	[1]
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	(138,856)	68,680	[1]	(88,976)	208,565	[1]
Income tax benefit (provision)	65,509	(19,663)	[1]	48,796	(66,806)	[1]
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(73,347)	49,017	[1]	(40,180)	141,759	[1]
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(1,389)	[1]		(5,805)	[1]
Consolidated net income (loss)	(73,347)	47,628	[1]	(40,180)	135,954	[1]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,485)	(6,685)	[1]	(12,804)	(21,757)	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders	(96,645)	40,943	[1]	(72,797)	114,197	[1]
Total consolidated comprehensive income	(60,210)	61,970	[1]	(6,387)	178,139	[1]
Basic and diluted
Continuing operations	$ (0.37)	$ 0.16	[1]	$ (0.28)	$ 0.47	[1]
Discontinued operations			[1]		$ (0.02)	[1]
Net income (loss)	$ (0.37)	$ 0.16	[1]	$ (0.28)	$ 0.45	[1]
As Previously Reported [Member]
Net revenue before the provision for doubtful accounts		1,664,187			5,037,246
Provision for doubtful accounts		(224,078)			(639,902)
Net revenue		1,440,109			4,397,344
Salaries and benefits		637,305			1,942,322
Supplies		216,819			677,416
Rent expense		41,882			130,746
Other operating expenses		331,935			969,350
Medicare and Medicaid HCIT incentive program		(24,224)			(31,685)
Depreciation and amortization		91,610			255,716
Interest expense		76,814			240,743
Other		(2,363)			(1,745)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		70,331			214,481
Income tax benefit (provision)		(20,913)			(70,931)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		49,418			143,550
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes		(1,389)			(5,805)
Consolidated net income (loss)		48,029			137,745
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(6,685)			(21,757)
Net income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders		41,344			115,988
Total consolidated comprehensive income		62,371			179,930
Basic and diluted
Continuing operations		$ 0.17			$ 0.48
Discontinued operations		$ (0.01)			$ (0.03)
Net income (loss)		$ 0.16			$ 0.45
Adjustment [Member]
Net revenue before the provision for doubtful accounts		(1,250)			(3,750)
Net revenue		(1,250)			(3,750)
Salaries and benefits					(847)
Rent expense		(75)			(225)
Other operating expenses		421			1,263
Medicare and Medicaid HCIT incentive program					1,810
Depreciation and amortization		(47)			(141)
Interest expense		102			306
Income from continuing operations before income taxes		(1,651)			(5,916)
Income tax benefit (provision)		1,250			4,125
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(401)			(1,791)
Consolidated net income (loss)		(401)			(1,791)
Net income (loss) attributable to Health Management Associates, Inc. common stockholders		(401)			(1,791)
Total consolidated comprehensive income		$ (401)			$ (1,791)
Basic and diluted
Continuing operations		$ (0.01)			$ (0.01)
Discontinued operations		$ 0.01			$ 0.01

[1] Restated