-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 D29wfdzedx2k9LM/lGAQG3hQ4w5UAg/PMT0640CAo2xQniPEQVkZlZgrr9ENGedZ
 ny+WcjVteVoiEBAvQGukOA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001074772-03-000004.txt : 20030519
<SEC-HEADER>0001074772-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20030519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030516174057
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001074772-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030516
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030519

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001074772
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC [8062]
		IRS NUMBER:				522165845
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		103 POWELL COURT
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6153728500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4525 HARDING RD
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37205

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS LLC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19981207

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAPHAM WILLIAM V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189148

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29818
		FILM NUMBER:		03709403

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		103 POWELL COURT SUITE 200
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6153728500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		103 POWELL COURT SUITE 200
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>lap139.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
<issuer>		<issuerCik>1074772</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>LPNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
		<reportingOwnerId>
			<rptOwnerCik>0001189148</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAPHAM WILLIAM V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-16</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<deemedExecutionDate>
			<value>2003-05-16</value>
		</deemedExecutionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>500</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>20.5200</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>1800</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>D</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value/>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-16</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<deemedExecutionDate>
			<value>2003-05-16</value>
		</deemedExecutionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>100</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>20.5200</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>380</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>I</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value>By Custodian For Child</value>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<nonDerivativeSecurity>
		<securityTitle>
			<value>Common Stock</value>
		</securityTitle>
		<transactionDate>
			<value>2003-05-16</value>
		</transactionDate>
		<deemedExecutionDate>
			<value>2003-05-16</value>
		</deemedExecutionDate>
		<transactionCoding>
			<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
			<transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
			<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
		</transactionCoding>
		<transactionAmounts>
			<transactionShares>
				<value>1000</value>
			</transactionShares>
			<transactionValue>
				<value>20.5200</value>
			</transactionValue>
			<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
				<value>A</value>
			</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
		</transactionAmounts>
		<postTransactionAmounts>
			<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
				<value>2250</value>
			</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
		</postTransactionAmounts>
		<ownershipNature>
			<directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<value>I</value>
			</directOrIndirectOwnership>
			<natureOfOwnership>
				<value>By Spouse</value>
			</natureOfOwnership>
		</ownershipNature>
	</nonDerivativeSecurity>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>/s/ Lapham, William V.</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-05-16</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----