EXHIBIT 23.1

              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

    
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the 
Registration Statement (Form S-4 No. 333-41953) and Proxy Statement/Prospectus
of Health Management Associates, Inc. for the registration of $80,001,376 of the
registrant's common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated October 24, 1997, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements and schedule of Health Management Associates, Inc. included in its
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended September 30, 1997, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.     


                                          ERNST & YOUNG LLP

    
Atlanta, Georgia
December 22, 1997      

                                       1

 

                        Consent of Independent Auditors


    
We consent to the reference of our firm under the caption "Experts" and to the 
use of our report dated August 1, 1997 (except for the fifth and seventh 
paragraphs of note 3, for which the date is November 14, 1997) with respect to 
the consolidated financial statements of River Oaks Hospital, Inc. and 
Subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement (Form S-4) and related 
Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Health Management Associates, Inc. dated December
10, 1997.     


                                                    /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                                                    ERNST & YOUNG LLP

    
New Orleans, Louisiana
December 23, 1997     



                                       2