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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 20, 6:31 PM EASTERN TIME

PRESS RELEASE

         LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC. SIGNS "CORPORATE INTEGRITY AGREEMENT"


AGREEMENT WITH U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FORMALIZES ETHICS
AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM IN PLACE SINCE CREATION OF COMPANY

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 20, 2000-- LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
(Nasdaq:LPNT - news) signed a "Corporate Integrity Agreement" (CIA) today with
the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that formalizes
a comprehensive program that the Company implemented when it was formed to
ensure and monitor compliance of the Company and its subsidiaries with the
statutes, regulations and written directives of Medicare, Medicaid and all other
federal healthcare programs.

"While developing this agreement, a good working relationship has been
established with the Department of Health and Human Services," said Todd Kerr,
LifePoint Hospitals' Vice President of Audit and Compliance. "Since the
inception of LifePoint Hospitals, we have worked diligently to build a
compliance program based on the highest ethical standards. This agreement fits
well with our existing compliance program and we are confident that we have the
necessary measures in place to meet the requirements of the CIA."

The CIA formalizes the organizational structure created by LifePoint Hospitals
to ensure and monitor compliance with healthcare programs sponsored by the
federal government. It outlines requirements for training programs, reporting
guidelines and review procedures over the five-year term of the agreement.

Signing the CIA is a result of legal issues raised during the late 1990s by the
federal government concerning practices at HCA--The Healthcare Company, which
was then Columbia/HCA. LifePoint Hospitals was "spun-off" from Columbia/HCA in
May of 1999. At the time of the spin-off, Columbia/HCA indemnified LifePoint and
its subsidiaries from any legal action that might occur in connection with the
federal investigation of HCA. As part of the spin-off, LifePoint negotiated with
the government with respect to the CIA.

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. was established in May of 1999 as a spin-off to the
shareholders of HCA -- The Healthcare Company, the nation's largest hospital and
healthcare system. LifePoint owns and operates 20 hospitals in non-urban areas.
In most cases, the LifePoint facility is the only hospital in its community.
LifePoint's non-urban operating strategy offers continued operational
improvement by focusing on its five core values: delivering high quality patient
care, supporting physicians, creating excellent workplaces for its employees,
providing community value, and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Headquartered in
Brentwood, Tennessee, LifePoint Hospitals is affiliated with over 6,000
professionals.

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Contact:

         LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
         Paula Hutson, 615/372-8500