Filed by LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to
Rule 14a-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Province Healthcare Company
Subject Company: LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
Commission File No.: 333-119929

This filing relates to a planned combination of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (“LifePoint Hospitals”) and Province Healthcare Company (“Province Healthcare”) pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 15, 2004, by and among LifePoint Hospitals, Lakers Holding Corp., Lakers Acquisition Corp., Pacers Acquisition Corp. and Province Healthcare, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 25, 2005.

In connection with the proposed transaction between LifePoint Hospitals and Province Healthcare, Lakers Holding Corp. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a joint proxy statement/prospectus, as part of a Registration Statement on Form S-4, and other relevant materials. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus was mailed to the stockholders of LifePoint Hospitals and Province Healthcare. Investors and security holders are advised to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials when they become available, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information about Lakers Holding Corp., LifePoint Hospitals, Province Healthcare and the proposed transaction. In addition, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed by LifePoint Hospitals or Province Healthcare with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by LifePoint Hospitals or Lakers Holding Corp. by contacting Investor Relations, LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., 103 Powell Court, Suite 200, Brentwood, Tennessee, 37027, Phone: (615) 372-8500 and by Province Healthcare by contacting Investor Relations, Province Healthcare Company, 105 Westwood Place, Suite 400, Brentwood, Tennessee, 37027, Phone: (615) 370-1377.

LifePoint Hospitals and Province Healthcare, and their respective directors and executive officers, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from their respective stockholders with respect to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Information about the directors and executive officers of LifePoint Hospitals, and their interests in the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including their ownership of LifePoint Hospitals common stock, is set forth in the proxy statement for LifePoint Hospitals’ 2004 annual meeting, which was filed with the SEC on April 28, 2004, and in the joint proxy statement/prospectus. Information about the directors and executive officers of Province Healthcare, and their interests in the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including their ownership of Province Healthcare common stock, is set forth in the proxy statement for Province Healthcare’s 2004 annual meeting, which was filed with the SEC on

April 20, 2004, and in the joint proxy statement/prospectus. Investors and security holders may obtain additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other relevant documents filed with the SEC.

The following letter is being sent to certain holders of LifePoint Hospitals common stock on or about March 9, 2005.

LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
103 POWELL COURT, SUITE 200
BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE 37027

March 9, 2005

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

We have previously sent to you proxy material for the Special Meeting of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. stockholders to be held on March 28, 2005. Your Board of Directors has unanimously recommended that stockholders vote FOR the proposed merger with Province Healthcare Company.

Since approval of the merger requires the affirmative vote by holders of a majority of the outstanding shares, your vote is important, no matter how many or how few shares you may own. Whether or not you have already done so, please vote TODAY by telephone, via the Internet, or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided.

Very truly yours,

William F. Carpenter III
Executive Vice President, General Counsel
     and Secretary

REMEMBER:

You can vote by telephone, or via the Internet.
Please follow the easy instructions on the enclosed card.

If you have any questions, or need assistance in voting
your shares, please call our proxy solicitor,

INNISFREE M&A INCORPORATED
TOLL-FREE, at 1-877-456-3507.