Exhibit 99

                   LifePoint Hospitals Announces 2004 Guidance

    BRENTWOOD, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 7, 2004--LifePoint
Hospitals, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPNT) today announced that it expects to
report earnings per share for full year 2004 in the range of $1.86 to
$1.91 in earnings per share. The guidance does not include any
estimate for 2004 acquisitions.
    Kenneth C. Donahey, chairman and chief executive officer of
LifePoint Hospitals, said, "We are excited about our prospects for
growth in 2004. Our physician recruiting results are the strongest
they have been in the history of the Company. Our prior acquisitions
are being integrated and will contribute to our bottom line. In
addition, we are realizing the expected returns on our capital
expenditure projects. We expect net revenues to increase by 8.0% to
9.0% and EBITDA margins to increase by 50 to 100 basis points. In
addition, we believe interest expense for 2004 will be approximately
$13.3 million and depreciation and amortization will be approximately
$51 million, with ESOP expense calculated at an estimated average
price of $35 per share and taxes at approximately 40.4%. Our estimate
of cash flows from operations for the year is between $133.0 million
and $140.0 million with capital expenditures estimated to be
approximately $88.0 million.
    "On a quarterly basis, we estimate first quarter 2004 earnings per
share to be in the range of $0.46 to $0.47, second quarter to be in
the range of $0.44 to $0.46, third quarter to be in the range of $0.44
to $0.45, and fourth quarter earnings per share to be in the range of
$0.52 to $0.53. This guidance takes into account the positive effect
of the recently passed Medicare Drug Prescription Bill. We are
extremely pleased and appreciative of the Senators and Congressmen who
supported President Bush on this much needed reform."
    LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. operates 29 hospitals in non-urban
communities. 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 9,000
employees.
    This release includes forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Numerous factors exist which may cause
results to differ from these expectations. Many of the factors that
will determine our future results are beyond our ability to control or
predict with accuracy. These statements are subject to various risks
and uncertainties, including, without limitation, (i) reduction in
payments to healthcare providers by government and commercial third
party payors, as well as cost-containment efforts of insurers and
other payors; (ii) the possibility of adverse changes in, and
requirements of, applicable laws, regulations, policies and
procedures, including those required by our corporate integrity
agreement; (iii) our ability to manage healthcare risks and the lack
of state and federal tort reform; (iv) uncertainty associated with
compliance with HIPAA regulations; (v) our ability to enter into and
renew payor arrangements on acceptable terms; (vi) our ability to
maintain and increase patient volumes and control costs; (vii) the
availability, cost and terms of insurance coverage; (viii) the highly
competitive nature of the healthcare business, including the
competition to recruit and retain physicians; (ix) the ability to
attract and retain qualified management and personnel; (x) the
geographic concentration of our operations; (xi) our ability to
acquire hospitals on favorable terms and to complete budgeted capital
improvements successfully; (xii) our ability to integrate newly
acquired facilities successfully; (xiii) the availability and terms of
capital to fund our business strategy; (xiv) changes in our liquidity
or indebtedness; (xv) the potential adverse impact of government
investigations and litigation involving the business practices of
healthcare providers; (xvi) successful development or license of
software and management information systems; (xvii) changes in
generally accepted accounting principles or practices; (xviii)
volatility in the market value of our common stock; (xix) changes in
general economic conditions and changes in the manner in which
employers provide healthcare coverage to their employees; (xx) our
reliance on information technology systems maintained by HCA; and
(xxi) those risks and uncertainties described from time to time in our
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Therefore, our
future results may differ materially from those described in this
release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
    It is the Company's policy not to update its guidance during a
quarter. Whenever the Company discloses material information that has
not been previously disclosed, it will do so in a manner that ensures
general public disclosure in compliance with Regulation FD such as
public filings, press releases, webcasts and conference calls.
    All references to "Company" and "LifePoint" as used throughout
this release refer to LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. and its affiliates.


    CONTACT: LifePoint Hospitals Inc., Brentwood
             Michael J. Culotta, 615-372-8512