|Exhibit 10.38


AMENDMENT NO. 9
TO THE
HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
Effective May 21, 2002


WHEREAS,
Health Management  Associates,  Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company),
has established the Health Management  Associates,  Inc. Stock Option Plan for Outside
Directors,  effective February 21, 1995, (as heretofore  amended, the Directors Option
Plan); and


WHEREAS,
pursuant to Section 13 of the Directors Option Plan, the Board of Directors of the
Company has authorized, approved, and adopted the amendment to the Directors Option Plan
set forth herein;


NOW,
THEREFORE, the Directors Option Plan is hereby amended, effective May 21, 2002, as
follows:


1.
A new Paragraph  (iv) is hereby added to Subsection  (d) Additional
Grant Dates. of Section 4. Grants of Options. of the Directors  Option
Plan, to provide in its entirety as follows (with the remainder of  said Subsection (d)
and said Section 4 being unchanged and unaffected by this Amendment and continuing in
full force and effect):
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| | (iv)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 4(b) hereof to the contrary, on May 21, 2002 (a
Grant Date), each Participating Director meeting the  eligibility
requirements of Section 1 hereof shall automatically be granted an Option to purchase
5,000 Shares.
| | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|2.
Except as amended hereby, the Directors Option Plan shall remain in full force and
effect in accordance with its terms.


This
Amendment No. 9 to the Health Management Associates, Inc. Stock Option Plan for Outside
Directors was authorized, approved, and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company
on May 21, 2002.
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| |  | **/s/ Timothy
      R. Parry**                        
| |  | ------------------------------------------------------
| |  | Timothy R. Parry, Corporate Secretary

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