<PAGE>   1

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2001
                                                     Registration No. 333-______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              --------------------

                            LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                                  52-2165845
    (State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    incorporation or organization)

      103 Powell Court, Suite 200                           37027
         Brentwood, Tennessee                            (Zip Code)
    (Address of Principal Executive
               Offices)

             LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)

                         William F. Carpenter III, Esq.
              Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                            LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
                           103 Powell Court, Suite 200
                           Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
                                 (615) 372-8500
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                         ------------------------------

                                   Copies to:
                              Paul D. Gilbert, Esq.
                         Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis,
                    A Professional Limited Liability Company
                          511 Union Street, Suite 2100
                           Nashville, Tennessee 37219

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================================

                                                        PROPOSED MAXIMUM   PROPOSED MAXIMUM  AMOUNT OF
                                          AMOUNT TO BE   OFFERING PRICE       AGGREGATE     REGISTRATION
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED    REGISTERED (1)   PER SHARE (2)     OFFERING PRICE    FEE (3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                     <C>             <C>                <C>               <C>
Common Stock, $.01 par value (4)        560,975 shares       $42.09          $23,611,438       $5,903
============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Consists of shares of common stock which have been issued under the
     LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan and are being
     registered for resale. This registration statement also covers any
     additional shares of common stock which become issuable in connection with
     the shares registered for sale hereby by reason of any stock dividend,
     stock split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization of
     or by the registrant which results in an increase in the number of shares
     of our common stock.

(2)  Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant
     to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon
     the average high and low sales reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
     July 26, 2001.

(3)  Pursuant to Rule 457(p) of the Securities Act, the registrant hereby
     offsets the registration fee required in connection with this registration
     statement by the amount of $1,110 previously paid in connection with the
     registrant's registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
     333-55824) filed February 16, 2001 relating to securities registered
     thereunder that remain unsold.

(4)  Includes the Series A preferred stock purchase rights associated with the
     common stock.

================================================================================



<PAGE>   2
                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

         We have prepared this registration statement in accordance with the
requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to
register shares of our common stock, par value $.01 per share, issued pursuant
to our Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         Filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-8 is a reoffer
prospectus that we have prepared in accordance with Part I of Form S-3 under the
Securities Act. The reoffer prospectus may be utilized for reofferings and
resales of up to 560,975 shares of common stock which have been issued to the
selling stockholders under the plan.


<PAGE>   3



REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                            LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.

                         560,975 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

         This reoffer prospectus relates to 560,975 shares of LifePoint
Hospitals, Inc. common stock acquired by the individuals listed under the
"Selling Stockholders" section of this reoffer prospectus pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The shares covered by this reoffer prospectus may
be offered for sale by the selling stockholders from time to time in ordinary
brokerage transactions on the Nasdaq National Market at market prices prevailing
at the time of the sale or in one or more negotiated transactions at prices
acceptable to the respective selling stockholder.

         The shares covered by this reoffer prospectus are "restricted
securities" under the Securities Act before their sale under the reoffer
prospectus. The reoffer prospectus has been prepared for the purpose of
registering the shares under the Securities Act to allow for future sales by the
selling stockholders to the public without restriction. To our knowledge, the
selling stockholders have no arrangement with any brokerage firm for the sale of
the shares covered by this reoffer prospectus. The selling stockholders may be
deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any
commissions received by a broker or dealer in connection with resales of the
shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the
Securities Act.

         Our common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol "LPNT." On July
30, 2001, the last sale price for our common stock as quoted on Nasdaq was
$42.83 per share.

         INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES RISKS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE
"RISK FACTORS" SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 OF THIS REOFFER PROSPECTUS.

                                   ----------

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                                   ----------

             The date of this reoffer prospectus is July 31, 2001.


<PAGE>   4




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                        <C>
SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS REOFFER PROSPECTUS...................................3

ABOUT THE COMPANY...........................................................3

RISK FACTORS................................................................6

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.................................................15

USE OF PROCEEDS............................................................17

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS.......................................................17

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.......................................................18

EXPERTS ...................................................................18

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION........................................19

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE..........................19
</TABLE>















                                       2
<PAGE>   5

                    SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS REOFFER PROSPECTUS

         This reoffer prospectus relates to 560,975 shares of LifePoint
Hospitals, Inc. common stock acquired by selling stockholders pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The selling stockholders are senior management
employees of the company.

         On May 11, 1999, the selling stockholders acquired an aggregate of
560,975 shares of common stock under our Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The
company loaned the selling stockholders the money necessary to purchase these
shares. These loans are evidenced by full-recourse promissory notes payable by
the respective selling stockholders to the company. Under the Executive Stock
Purchase Plan, after May 11, 2001, the selling stockholders may sell that number
of shares purchased under the plan necessary to repay their loans from the
company and to pay associated expenses and fees.

         The shares covered by this reoffer prospectus are "restricted
securities" under the Securities Act before their sale under the reoffer
prospectus. The reoffer prospectus has been prepared for the purpose of
registering the shares under the Securities Act to allow for future sales by the
selling stockholders to the public without restriction.


                                ABOUT THE COMPANY
WHO WE ARE

         We operate 21 general, acute care hospitals with an aggregate of 1,963
licensed beds in growing, non-urban communities. In all but one of our
communities, our hospital is the only provider of acute care hospital services.
Our hospitals are located in Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Utah
and Wyoming.

THE NON-URBAN HEALTHCARE MARKET

         We believe that growing, non-urban healthcare markets are attractive
because of the following factors:

         -        LESS COMPETITION. Non-urban communities have smaller
                  populations with fewer hospitals and other healthcare service
                  providers. We believe that the smaller populations and the
                  relative significance of the one or two acute care hospitals
                  in these markets discourage the entry of new providers.

         -        MORE FAVORABLE PAYMENT ENVIRONMENT. Non-urban hospitals can
                  often negotiate reimbursement rates with managed care plans
                  that are more favorable, in general, than those available in
                  urban markets. Moreover, when compared to acute care hospitals
                  in urban markets, acute care hospitals in non-urban markets
                  generally receive a lower percentage of their revenues from
                  managed care payors, such as HMOs and PPOs.

         -        COMMUNITY FOCUS. We believe that non-urban areas generally
                  view the local hospitals as an integral part of the community.

         -        ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES. Not-for-profit and governmental
                  entities own most non-urban hospitals. These entities
                  typically have limited access to capital and sometimes



                                       3
<PAGE>   6

                  lack management resources. As a result, we believe that many
                  non-urban hospitals are attractive acquisition candidates.

OPERATING PHILOSOPHY

         We are committed to operating acute care hospitals in growing,
non-urban markets. As a result, we adhere to an operating philosophy that is
focused on the unique patient and provider needs and opportunities in these
communities. This philosophy includes a commitment to:

         -        improving the quality and scope of available healthcare
                  services;

         -        providing physicians a positive environment in which to
                  practice medicine, with access to necessary equipment and
                  resources;

         -        providing an outstanding work environment for employees;

         -        recognizing and expanding the hospital's role as a community
                  asset; and

         -        continuing to improve each hospital's financial performance.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

         We manage our hospitals in accordance with our operating philosophy and
have developed the following strategies tailored for each of our markets:

         -        EXPAND BREADTH OF SERVICE AND ATTRACT COMMUNITY PATIENTS. We
                  strive to increase revenues by improving the quality and
                  broadening the scope of healthcare services available at our
                  facilities. We believe these actions will encourage patients
                  to seek care at our hospitals rather than at competing
                  facilities in other communities.

         -        STRENGTHEN PHYSICIAN RECRUITING AND RETENTION. We seek to
                  enhance the quality of care available locally by recruiting
                  and retaining physicians for our non-urban communities. We
                  continue to recruit physicians from a broad range of
                  specialties targeted to the needs of each community.

         -        RETAIN AND DEVELOP STABLE MANAGEMENT. We seek to retain the
                  executive teams at our hospitals to enhance medical staff
                  relations and maintain continuity of relationships within the
                  community.

         -        IMPROVE MANAGED CARE POSITION. We strive to improve our
                  revenues from managed care plans by negotiating
                  facility-specific contracts with these payors on terms
                  appropriate for smaller, non-urban markets. When we operated
                  as a division of HCA, we did not have the ability to negotiate
                  facility-specific managed care agreements and were often tied
                  to arrangements more favorable to HCA's urban hospitals.

         -        IMPROVE EXPENSE MANAGEMENT. We seek to control costs by, among
                  other things, reducing labor costs, improving labor
                  productivity, controlling supply expenses and reducing
                  uncollectible revenues. We believe that as our company grows,
                  we will likely benefit from our ability to spread fixed
                  administrative costs over a larger base of operations.

         -        ACQUIRE OTHER HOSPITALS. We continue to pursue a disciplined
                  acquisition strategy and seek to identify and acquire
                  attractive hospitals in growing, non-urban markets.



                                       4
<PAGE>   7

OUR FORMATION

         We were formed as a division of HCA in November 1997 to operate
general, acute care hospitals in non-urban communities. We became an
independent, publicly-traded company on May 11, 1999 when HCA distributed all
outstanding shares of our common stock to its stockholders.

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES

         Our principal executive offices are located at 103 Powell Court, Suite
200, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, and our telephone number is 615-372-8500. Our
World Wide Web address is www.lifepointhospitals.com. Information in the website
is not part of this reoffer prospectus and should not be considered part of this
reoffer prospectus.














                                       5
<PAGE>   8

                                  RISK FACTORS

         In evaluating an investment in our common stock, you should carefully
consider the following factors in addition to the other information included in
or incorporated by reference in this reoffer prospectus.

OUR REVENUES MAY DECLINE IF FEDERAL OR STATE PROGRAMS REDUCE MEDICARE OR
MEDICAID PAYMENTS OR MANAGED CARE COMPANIES REDUCE REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES
PROVIDED BY OUR HOSPITALS.

         For the year ended December 31, 2000 and for the six months ended June
30, 2001, we derived 47.0% and 48.9%, respectively, of our revenues from the
Medicare and Medicaid programs. In recent years, federal and state governments
made significant changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These changes
have decreased the amounts of money we receive for our services to patients who
participate in these programs.

         In recent years, Congress and some state legislatures have introduced
an increasing number of other proposals to make major changes in the healthcare
system. Medicare-reimbursed, hospital-outpatient services converted to a
prospective payment system on August 1, 2000. This system creates limitations on
levels of payment for a substantial portion of hospital outpatient procedures.
Future federal and state legislation may further reduce the payments we receive
for our services.

         A number of states have adopted legislation designed to reduce their
Medicaid expenditures and to provide universal coverage and additional care to
their residents. Some states propose to enroll Medicaid recipients in managed
care programs and impose additional taxes on hospitals to help finance or expand
the states' Medicaid systems.

         In addition, insurance and managed care companies and other third
parties from whom we receive payment for our services increasingly attempt to
control healthcare costs by requiring that hospitals discount their fees in
exchange for exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. We
believe that this trend may continue and may reduce the payments we receive for
our services.

WE MAY BE SUBJECTED TO ALLEGATIONS THAT WE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH GOVERNMENTAL
REGULATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN SANCTIONS THAT REDUCE OUR REVENUE AND
PROFITABILITY.

         All participants in the healthcare industry are required to comply with
many laws and regulations at the federal, state and local government levels.
These laws and regulations require that hospitals meet various requirements,
including those relating to the adequacy of medical care, equipment, personnel,
operating policies and procedures, maintenance of adequate records, privacy,
compliance with building codes and environmental protection. These laws often
contain safe harbor provisions which describe some of the conduct and business
relationships that are immune from prosecution. Some of our current business
arrangements do not qualify for a safe harbor. This does not automatically
render our arrangements illegal. However, we may be subject to scrutiny by
enforcement authorities. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and
regulations, we could suffer civil or criminal penalties, including the loss of
our licenses to operate our hospitals and our ability to participate in the
Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs.

         Significant media and public attention recently has focused on the
hospital industry due to ongoing investigations related to referrals, cost
reporting and billing practices, laboratory and home healthcare services,
physician ownership and joint ventures involving hospitals. Both federal and
state government agencies have announced heightened and coordinated civil and
criminal



                                       6
<PAGE>   9

enforcement efforts. In addition, the Office of the Inspector General of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States
Department of Justice periodically establish enforcement initiatives that focus
on specific billing practices or other suspected areas of abuse. Recent
initiatives include a focus on hospital billing practices.

         In public statements, governmental authorities have taken positions on
issues for which little official interpretation was previously available. Some
of these positions appear to be inconsistent with common practices within the
industry and which have not previously been challenged in this manner. Moreover,
some government investigations that have in the past been conducted under the
civil provisions of federal law are now being conducted as criminal
investigations under the Medicare fraud and abuse laws.

         The laws and regulations that we must comply with are complex and
subject to change. In the future, different interpretations or enforcement of
these laws and regulations could subject our current practices to allegations of
impropriety or illegality or could require us to make changes in our facilities,
equipment, personnel, services, capital expenditure programs and operating
expenses.

IF WE FAIL TO EFFECTIVELY RECRUIT AND RETAIN PHYSICIANS AND NURSES OUR ABILITY
TO DELIVER HEALTHCARE SERVICES EFFICIENTLY WILL SUFFER.

         Physicians generally direct the majority of hospital admissions. Our
success, in part, depends on the number and quality of physicians on our
hospitals' medical staffs, the admissions practices of these physicians and the
maintenance of good relations with these physicians. We generally do not employ
physicians. Only a limited number of physicians practice in the non-urban
communities where our hospitals are located. Our primary method of adding or
expanding medical services is the recruitment of new physicians into our
communities.

         The success of our recruiting efforts depends on several factors. In
general, there is a shortage of specialty care physicians. We face intense
competition in the recruitment of specialists because of the difficulty
convincing these individuals of the benefits of practicing in a rural community.
Physicians are concerned with the patient volume in rural hospitals and whether
the volume will allow them to generate income comparable to that which they
would generate in an urban setting. If the trend in the United States over the
last several years to move out of cities and into more rural areas changes and
the growth rate in the rural communities where our hospitals operate slows, then
we could experience difficulty attracting physicians to practice in our
communities.

         There is generally a shortage of nurses. Our hospitals may be forced to
hire expensive contract nurses if they are unable to recruit and retain nurses.
The shortage of nurses may affect our hospitals' ability to deliver healthcare
services efficiently.

OUR REVENUE IS HEAVILY CONCENTRATED IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE, WHICH MAKES US
PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC CHANGES IN THOSE STATES.

         Our revenue is particularly sensitive to regulatory and economic
changes in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. As of December 31, 2000, we
operated 20 hospitals with six located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and six
located in the State of Tennessee. We generated 38.8% of our revenue from our
Kentucky hospitals and 20.7% from our Tennessee hospitals for the year ended
December 31, 2000. Effective January 2, 2001, we began operating Bluegrass
Community Hospital in Versailles, Kentucky. Based on our operation of 21
hospitals this year, we generated 39.8% of our revenue from our Kentucky
hospitals and 21.7% from our Tennessee hospitals for the six months ended June
30, 2001. One managed care organization that participates in Tennessee's
Medicaid program has been placed in rehabilitation by the State of Tennessee,
and one managed care organization in



                                       7
<PAGE>   10

Kentucky has been placed in receivership by the State of Kentucky. Other managed
care organizations in the states in which we derive significant revenue may
encounter similar difficulties in paying claims in the future.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY ACQUIRING HOSPITALS ON FAVORABLE TERMS, AVOIDING UNKNOWN
OR CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OF ACQUIRED HOSPITALS AND, BECAUSE OF REGULATORY
SCRUTINY, ACQUIRING NONPROFIT ENTITIES.

         One element of our business strategy is expansion through the
acquisition of acute care hospitals in growing, non-urban markets. We face
significant competition to acquire other attractive, rural hospitals. We may not
find suitable acquisitions on favorable terms. We also may incur or assume
additional indebtedness as a result of the consummation of any acquisitions. In
addition, in order to ensure the tax-free treatment of the distribution of our
stock from HCA, our ability to issue stock as consideration for acquisitions is
limited. Our failure to acquire non-urban hospitals consistent with our growth
plans could prevent us from increasing our revenues.

         We also may acquire businesses with unknown or contingent liabilities,
including liabilities for failure to comply with healthcare laws and
regulations. We have policies to conform the practices of acquired facilities to
our standards and applicable law and generally will seek indemnification from
prospective sellers covering these matters. We may, however, incur material
liabilities for past activities of acquired businesses.

         In recent years, the legislatures and attorneys general of several
states have become more interested in sales of hospitals by not-for-profit
entities. This heightened scrutiny may increase the cost and difficulty, or
prevent our completion, of transactions with not-for-profit organizations in the
future.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED LAWS MAY PROHIBIT OR LIMIT ANY FUTURE EXPANSION BY US IN
STATES WITH THESE LAWS.

         Some states require prior approval for the purchase, construction and
expansion of health care facilities, based on a state's determination of need
for additional or expanded health care facilities or services. Four states in
which we currently own hospitals, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee,
require a certificate of need for capital expenditures exceeding a prescribed
amount, changes in bed capacity or services and certain other matters. We may
not be able to obtain certificates of need required for expansion activities in
the future. If we fail to obtain any required certificate of need, our ability
to operate or expand operations in these states could be impaired.

OUR ABILITY TO INCUR SUBSTANTIAL DEBT COULD CAUSE US TO BECOME A HIGHLY
LEVERAGED COMPANY.

         On June 19, 2001, we completed a $200 million, five-year amended and
restated credit agreement that increased the amount we may draw on our revolving
credit commitment from $65 million to $200 million and extended the current
credit agreement to five years. At June 30, 2001, we had not made a draw under
this new credit agreement. We have the ability to incur additional debt, subject
to limitations imposed by our credit agreement and the indenture governing the
notes issued by our subsidiary, LifePoint Hospitals Holdings, Inc. At June 30,
2001, our consolidated long-term debt, attributed solely to these notes, equaled
approximately $150 million. Any substantial increase in our debt levels could
have important consequences to our stockholders, including the following:

         -        make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and to adverse
                  changes in business conditions, such as further limitations on
                  reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid programs;



                                       8
<PAGE>   11

         -        limit our ability to obtain additional financing in the future
                  for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions,
                  general corporate purposes or other purposes;

         -        require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow
                  from operations to the payment of principal and interest on
                  any indebtedness, reducing the funds available for our
                  operations;

         -        make us vulnerable to increases in interest rates if our
                  borrowings are at variable rates of interest; and

         -        require us to pay the indebtedness immediately if we default
                  on any of the numerous financial and other restrictive
                  covenants, including restrictions on our payments of
                  dividends, incurrences of indebtedness and sale of assets.

FEDERAL AND STATE INVESTIGATIONS OF HCA COULD SUBJECT OUR HOSPITALS AND
OPERATIONS TO INCREASED GOVERNMENTAL SCRUTINY.

         HCA is currently the subject of various federal and state
investigations, qui tam actions, shareholder derivative and class action suits,
patient/payer actions and general liability claims. HCA is also the subject of a
formal order of investigation by the SEC. HCA understands that the SEC's
investigation includes the anti-fraud, insider trading, periodic reporting and
internal accounting control provisions of the federal securities laws. These
investigations, actions and claims relate to HCA and its subsidiaries, including
subsidiaries that, before our formation as an independent company, owned the
facilities we now own.

         HCA is a defendant in several qui tam actions, or actions brought by
private parties, known as relators, on behalf of the United States of America,
which have been unsealed and served on HCA. The actions allege, in general, that
HCA and certain subsidiaries and/or affiliated partnerships violated the False
Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. ss. 3729 et seq., by submitting improper claims to the
government for reimbursement. The lawsuits seek three times the amount of
damages caused to the United States by the submission of any Medicare or
Medicaid false claims presented by the defendants to the federal government,
civil penalties of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for each such
Medicare or Medicaid claim, attorneys' fees and costs. HCA has disclosed that,
on March 15, 2001, the Department of Justice filed a status report setting forth
the government's decisions regarding intervention in existing qui tam actions
against HCA and filed formal complaints for those suits in which the government
has intervened. HCA stated that, of the original 30 qui tam actions, the
Department of Justice remains active and has elected to intervene in eight
actions. HCA has also disclosed that it is aware of additional qui tam actions
that remain under seal and believes that there may be other sealed qui tam cases
of which it is unaware.

         On December 14, 2000, HCA announced that it signed an agreement with
the Department of Justice and four U.S. attorneys' offices resolving all pending
federal criminal issues in the government's investigation. The criminal
agreement has been accepted by the federal district courts. The criminal
agreement provided that HCA pay the government $95 million, which payment was
made during the first quarter of 2001, and that two non-operating subsidiaries
enter certain criminal pleas, which pleas were entered in January 2001.

         HCA also announced that it signed a civil settlement agreement with the
Department of Justice resolving civil false claims issues related to DRG coding,
outpatient laboratory and home health. The civil settlement agreement provides
that in return for releases on these issues, HCA will pay the government $745
million, with interest accruing from May 18, 2000 to the payment date at a rate
of 6.5%. The civil payment will be made upon receipt of court approval of the
settlement. The



                                       9
<PAGE>   12

civil issues that are not covered by the civil agreement include claims related
to cost reports and physician relations issues.

         The agreements announced on December 14, 2000 relate only to conduct
that was the subject of the federal investigations resolved in the agreements,
and HCA has stated publicly that it continues to discuss civil claims relating
to cost reporting and physician relations with the government. These agreements
with the government do not resolve various qui tam actions filed by private
parties against HCA, or any pending state actions. In addition to other claims
not covered by these agreements, the government also reserved its rights under
these agreements to pursue any claims it may have for:

         -        any civil, criminal or administrative liability under the
                  Internal Revenue Code;

         -        any other criminal liability;

         -        any administrative liability, including mandatory exclusion
                  from federal health care programs;

         -        any liability to the United States (or its agencies) for any
                  conduct other than the conduct covered in the government's
                  investigation;

         -        any express or implied warranty claims or other claims for
                  defective or deficient products or services, including quality
                  of goods and services, provided by HCA;

         -        any claims for personal injury or property damage or for other
                  similar consequential damages arising from the conduct subject
                  to the investigation; and

         -        any civil or administrative claims of the United States
                  against individuals.

         In addition, five of our current and former hospitals received notices
in early 2001 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMMS"),
formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration, a United States
government agency that runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The notices
stated that CMMS was re-opening, for examination, cost reports for Medicare and
Medicaid reimbursement filed by these hospitals for periods between 1993 and
1998, which pre-dates our spin-off from HCA.

         HCA has agreed to indemnify us for any losses, other than consequential
damages, arising from the pending governmental investigations of HCA's business
practices prior to the date of the distribution and losses arising from legal
proceedings, present or future, related to the investigation or actions engaged
in before the distribution that relate to the investigation. HCA has also agreed
that, in the event that any hospital owned by us at the time of the spin-off is
permanently excluded from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs as
a result of the proceedings described above, then HCA will make a cash payment
to us, in an amount (if positive) equal to five times the excluded hospital's
1998 income from continuing operations before depreciation and amortization,
interest expense, management fees, impairment of long-lived assets, minority
interests and income taxes, as set forth on a schedule to the distribution
agreement, less the net proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the
excluded hospital. However, we could be held responsible for any claims that are
not covered by the agreements reached with the federal government or for which
HCA is not required to, or fails to, indemnify us. If indemnified matters were
asserted successfully against us or any of our facilities, and HCA failed to
meet its indemnification obligations, then this event could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or
prospects.



                                       10
<PAGE>   13

         The extent to which we may or may not continue to be affected by the
ongoing investigations of HCA and the initiation of additional investigations,
if any, cannot be predicted. These matters could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects in
future periods.

WE DEPEND SIGNIFICANTLY ON KEY PERSONNEL, AND THE LOSS OF ONE OR MORE SENIOR OR
LOCAL MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COULD LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO EXECUTE OUR BUSINESS
STRATEGY.

         We depend on the continued services and management experience of
Kenneth C. Donahey and our other executive officers. If Mr. Donahey or any of
our other executive officers resign their positions or otherwise are unable to
serve, our management expertise and ability to deliver healthcare services
efficiently could be weakened. In addition, if we fail to attract and retain
managers at our hospitals and related facilities our operations will suffer.

OTHER HOSPITALS PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES, WHICH MAY RAISE THE LEVEL OF
COMPETITION FACED BY OUR HOSPITALS.

         Competition among hospitals and other healthcare providers for patients
has intensified in recent years. All but one of our hospitals operate in
geographic areas where we are currently the sole provider of hospital services
in these communities. While our hospitals face less direct competition in our
immediate service areas, we do compete with other hospitals, including larger
tertiary care centers. Although these competing hospitals may be in excess of 30
to 50 miles away from our facilities, patients in these markets may migrate to,
may be referred by local physicians to, or may be lured by incentives from
managed care plans to travel to these distant hospitals. Some of these competing
hospitals use equipment and services more specialized than those available at
our hospitals. In addition, some of the hospitals that compete with us are owned
by tax-supported governmental agencies or not-for-profit entities supported by
endowments and charitable contributions. These hospitals can make capital
expenditures without paying sales, property and income taxes. We also face
competition from other specialized care providers, including outpatient surgery,
orthopedic, oncology and diagnostic centers.

WE HAVE LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY AS AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY.

         Prior to May 11, 1999, we operated as the America Group division of
HCA. Accordingly, we do not have a long operating history as an independent,
publicly-traded company. Before the distribution of our stock from HCA, we
historically relied on HCA for various financial, administrative and managerial
expertise relevant to the conduct of our business. HCA continues to provide some
support services to us on a contractual basis. We did not generate a profit for
1999. Although we generated a profit in 2000, we may not have net profits in the
future.

IF OUR ACCESS TO HCA'S INFORMATION SYSTEMS IS RESTRICTED OR WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
INTEGRATE CHANGES TO OUR EXISTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS, OUR OPERATIONS COULD
SUFFER.

         Our business depends significantly on effective information systems to
process clinical and financial information. Information systems require an
ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain and enhance existing
systems and develop new systems in order to keep pace with continuing changes in
information processing technology. We rely heavily on HCA for information
systems. Under a contract with an initial term that will expire on May 11, 2006,
HCA provides financial, clinical, patient accounting and network information
services to us. If our access to these systems is limited in the future or if
HCA develops systems more appropriate for the urban healthcare market and not
suited for our hospitals, our operations could suffer. In addition, as new
information systems are developed, we must integrate them into our existing
systems. Evolving industry and regulatory standards, including the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability



                                       11
<PAGE>   14

Act of 1996, commonly known as "HIPAA," may require changes to our information
systems. We may not be able to integrate new systems or changes required to our
existing systems in the future effectively.

IF WE FAIL TO COMPLY WITH OUR CORPORATE INTEGRITY AGREEMENT, WE COULD BE
REQUIRED TO PAY SIGNIFICANT MONETARY PENALTIES.

         In December 2000, we entered into a corporate integrity agreement with
the Office of Inspector General. Under this agreement, we have an affirmative
obligation to report violations of applicable laws and regulations. This
obligation could result in greater scrutiny of us by regulatory authorities.
Complying with our corporate integrity agreement will require additional efforts
and costs. Our failure to comply with the terms of the corporate integrity
agreement could subject us to significant monetary penalties.

IF WE BECOME SUBJECT TO MALPRACTICE AND RELATED LEGAL CLAIMS, WE COULD BE
REQUIRED TO PAY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES.

         In recent years, physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers
have become subject to an increasing number of legal actions alleging
malpractice or related legal theories. Many of these actions involve large
claims and significant defense costs. To protect ourselves from the cost of
these claims, we generally maintain professional malpractice liability insurance
and general liability insurance coverage in amounts and with deductibles that we
believe to be appropriate for our operations. However, our insurance coverage
may not cover all claims against us or continue to be available at a reasonable
cost for us to maintain adequate levels of insurance.

WE COULD INCUR SUBSTANTIAL LIABILITY IF THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR STOCK FROM HCA
WERE TO BE TAXABLE.

         On March 30, 1999, HCA received a private letter ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service concerning the United States federal income tax
consequences of the distribution by HCA of our common stock and the common stock
of Triad Hospitals, Inc., a publicly-traded company comprising the former
Pacific Group of HCA, and the restructuring transactions that preceded the
distribution. The private letter ruling provides that the distribution generally
was tax-free to HCA and HCA's stockholders, except for any cash received instead
of fractional shares. The IRS has issued additional private letter rulings that
supplement its March 30, 1999 ruling stating that certain transactions occurring
after the distribution do not adversely affect the private letter rulings
previously issued by the IRS. The March 30, 1999 ruling and the supplemental
rulings are based on the accuracy of representations as to numerous factual
matters and as to certain intentions of HCA, Triad and LifePoint. The inaccuracy
of any of those representations could cause the IRS to revoke all or part of any
of the rulings retroactively.

         If the distribution were to fail to qualify for tax-free treatment,
then, in general, additional corporate tax, which would be substantial, would be
payable by the consolidated group of which HCA is the common parent. Each member
of HCA's consolidated group at the time of the distribution, including
LifePoint, would be jointly and severally liable for this tax liability. In
addition, LifePoint entered into a tax sharing and indemnification agreement
with HCA and Triad, which prohibits LifePoint from taking actions that could
jeopardize the tax treatment of either the distribution or the restructuring
transactions that preceded the distribution, and requires LifePoint to indemnify
HCA and Triad for any taxes or other losses that result from LifePoint's
actions, which amounts could be substantial. If LifePoint were required to make
any indemnity payments or otherwise were liable for additional taxes relating to
the distribution, LifePoint's results of operations could be materially
adversely affected.



                                       12
<PAGE>   15

WE DEPEND ON DIVIDENDS AND OTHER INTERCOMPANY TRANSFERS OF FUNDS TO MEET OUR
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.

         We are a holding company and hold most of our assets and conduct most
of our operations through direct and indirect subsidiaries. As a holding
company, our results of operations depend on the results of operations of our
subsidiaries. Moreover, we depend on dividends and other intercompany transfers
of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service and other obligations,
including payment of principal and interest on the senior subordinated notes
issued by our subsidiary, LifePoint Hospitals Holdings, Inc. The ability of our
subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments or advances will depend on
their operating results and will be subject to applicable laws and restrictions
contained in agreements governing indebtedness of these subsidiaries.

OUR ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS MAY DISCOURAGE ACQUISITIONS OF CONTROL EVEN THOUGH
OUR STOCKHOLDERS MAY CONSIDER THESE PROPOSALS DESIRABLE.

         Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the
effect of discouraging an acquisition of control not approved by our board of
directors. These provisions include:

         -        the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock by the board of
                  directors without stockholder approval;

         -        higher stockholder voting requirements for some transactions,
                  including business combinations with related parties (i.e., a
                  "fair price provision");

         -        a prohibition on taking actions by the written consent of
                  stockholders;

         -        restrictions on the persons eligible to call a special meeting
                  of stockholders;

         -        classification of the board of directors into three classes;
                  and

         -        the removal of directors only for cause and by a vote of 80%
                  of the outstanding voting power.

         These provisions may also have the effect of discouraging third parties
from making proposals involving our acquisition or change of control, although a
proposal, if made, might be considered desirable by a majority of our
stockholders. These provisions could further have the effect of making it more
difficult for third parties to cause the replacement of our board of directors.

         We have also adopted a stockholder rights plan. This stockholder rights
plan is designed to protect stockholders in the event of an unsolicited offer
and other takeover tactics which, in the opinion of the board of directors,
could impair our ability to represent stockholder interests. The provisions of
this stockholder rights plan may render an unsolicited takeover more difficult
or might prevent a takeover.

         Provisions of the tax sharing and indemnification agreement that are
intended to preserve the tax-free status of the distribution could also
discourage takeover proposals or make them more expensive.

         We are subject to provisions of Delaware corporate law which may also
restrict some business combination transactions. Delaware law may further
discourage, delay or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us.



                                       13
<PAGE>   16

WE HAVE NEVER PAID AND HAVE NO CURRENT PLANS TO PAY A DIVIDEND ON OUR COMMON
SHARES.

         We have never paid a cash dividend and we do not anticipate paying any
cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our senior credit facility also
restricts the payment of cash dividends. If we incur any future indebtedness to
refinance our existing indebtedness or to fund our future growth, our ability to
pay dividends may be further restricted by the terms of this indebtedness.

OUR STOCK PRICE HAS BEEN AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE VOLATILE.

         The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be
subject to wide fluctuations. Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a
number of events and factors, including:

         -        quarterly variations in operating results;

         -        changes in financial estimates and recommendations by
                  securities analysts;

         -        the operating and stock price performance of other companies
                  that investors may deem comparable; and

         -        news reports relating to trends in our markets.

         Broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price
of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.










                                       14
<PAGE>   17

                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This reoffer prospectus and other materials we have filed or may file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as information included in
oral statements or other written statements made, or to be made, by us, contain,
or will contain, disclosures which are "forward-looking statements."
Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to
historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of words such as
"may", "believe", "will", "expect", "project", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan"
or "continue." These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans
and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties
and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations and
future financial condition and results. These factors include, but are not
limited to:

         -        the highly competitive nature of the healthcare business
                  including the competition to recruit general and specialized
                  physicians;

         -        the efforts of insurers, healthcare providers and others to
                  contain healthcare costs;

         -        possible changes in the Medicare program that may further
                  limit reimbursements to healthcare providers and insurers;

         -        changes in federal, state or local regulation affecting the
                  healthcare industry;

         -        the possible enactment of federal or state healthcare reform;

         -        the ability to attract and retain qualified management and
                  personnel, including physicians and nurses, consistent with
                  our expectations and targets;

         -        our ability to acquire hospitals on favorable terms;

         -        liabilities and other claims asserted against us;

         -        uncertainty associated with the newly issued HIPAA
                  regulations;

         -        the ability to enter into, renegotiate and renew payor
                  arrangements on acceptable terms;

         -        the availability and terms of capital to fund our business
                  strategy;

         -        implementation of our business strategy and development plans;

         -        our ongoing efforts to monitor, maintain and comply with
                  applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures
                  including those required by the corporate integrity agreement
                  that we entered into with the government in December, 2000;

         -        the ability to increase patient volumes and control the costs
                  of providing services and supply costs;

         -        successful development or license, performance and use of
                  management information systems, including software for
                  efficient claims processing;

         -        limitations placed on us to preserve the tax treatment of the
                  distribution of our common stock from HCA;

         -        fluctuations in the market value of our common stock;



                                       15
<PAGE>   18

         -        changes in accounting practices;

         -        changes in general economic conditions; and

         -        other risk factors described in this reoffer prospectus.

         As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and future
financial conditions and results may differ from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of our company. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned
not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the
information presented in this reoffer prospectus.





















                                       16
<PAGE>   19

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         We will not receive any proceeds from this offering.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         The selling stockholders consist of seven officers of our company who
acquired an aggregate of 560,975 shares of our common stock pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         We are registering all 560,975 shares covered by this reoffer
prospectus on behalf of the selling stockholders named in the table below. We
are registering the shares to permit the selling stockholders and their
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest that receive their
shares from selling stockholders as a gift, partnership distribution or another
non-sale related transfer after the date of this reoffer prospectus to resell
the shares when they deem appropriate. We refer to all of these possible sellers
as "selling stockholders" in this reoffer prospectus.

         The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the common stock by the selling stockholders as of July 31, 2001.
Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting and investment power (or
shares such powers with his or her spouse) with respect to the shares shown as
beneficially owned.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Shares
                                                                        Beneficially
                                        Shares           Maximum         Owned After
                                     Beneficially       Number of        Completion
                                    Owned Prior to     Shares Being        of the
 Name(l)                            the Offering(2)       Offered       Offering(2)(3)
 -------                            ---------------       -------       --------------
<S>                                 <C>                <C>              <C>
Kenneth C. Donahey                      401,857           146,341          255,516

William F. Carpenter III                324,684           146,341          178,343

Neil D. Hemphill                        222,006            68,293          153,713

Daniel S. Slipkovich(4)                 184,478            73,171          111,307

William M. Gracey(5)                    182,086            73,171          108,915

Robert S. Raplee                         57,621            29,268           28,353

Michael A. Wiechart                      59,238            24,390           34,848
</TABLE>

--------------

(1)      The address of each selling security holder is c/o LifePoint Hospitals,
         Inc., 103 Powell Court, Suite 200, Brentwood, Tennessee, 37027. Each of
         the selling stockholders is an officer of LifePoint.

(2)      Includes shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60
         days through the exercise of stock options (Mr. Donahey 245,112; Mr.
         Carpenter 177,878; Mr. Hemphill 151,859; Mr. Slipkovich 107,839; Mr.
         Gracey 107,849; Mr. Raplee 27,494; and Mr. Wiechart 34,147). Also
         includes shares indirectly owned through the Company's retirement plan
         (Mr. Donahey 1,308; Mr. Carpenter 465; Mr. Hemphill 743; Mr. Slipkovich
         772; Mr. Gracey 750; Mr. Raplee 800; and Mr. Wiechart 701). Share
         amounts attributable to the retirement plan are estimates based upon a
         June 30, 2001 value of $44.28 per share.

(3)      In each case represents less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.

(4)      Includes 98 shares held by Mr. Slipkovich's wife, as to which he
         disclaims beneficial ownership.

(5)      Includes 55 shares and options to purchase 416 shares held by Mr.
         Gracey's wife, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership.








                                       17
<PAGE>   20

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         We do not know how the selling stockholders will sell the shares. They
may sell the shares from time to time in any of several ways and in any of
several marketplaces, including:

         -        through private negotiations directly with purchasers;

         -        through agreements with underwriters, dealers or brokers for
                  their own accounts;

         -        through agreements with underwriters or dealers for resale;

         -        in block trades with brokers or dealers who will attempt to
                  sell the shares as agent but may resell a portion of the block
                  as principal to facilitate the transaction; or

         -        in brokers' transactions on Nasdaq, subject to its rules.

         We do not know at what prices the selling stockholders may sell the
shares. They may sell the shares at market prices prevailing at the time of the
sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated
prices. They may pay usual and customary or specifically negotiated fees,
discounts or commissions in connection with these sales. We will not pay any of
those fees, discounts or commissions.

         Because selling stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, they will be subject
to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

         We will bear the expense of preparation and filing of the registration
statement of which this reoffer prospectus is a part. The aggregate amount of
all these expenses is expected to be approximately $75,000.

         See "Selling Stockholders" for information concerning the beneficial
ownership of LifePoint common stock by the selling stockholders.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
appearing in LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.'s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year
ended December 31, 2000, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated
herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.






                                       18
<PAGE>   21

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are also available over the
Internet at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy
any document we file at the SEC's public reference rooms at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more
information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges. Reports and
other information concerning us can also be inspected at the offices of Nasdaq,
33 Whitehall Street, New York, New York 10004-2193.

         We have filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the SEC to
register the resale of the common stock issued pursuant to our Executive Stock
Purchase Plan. You should rely only on the information contained and
incorporated by reference in this reoffer prospectus. We have not authorized any
other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you
with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You
should assume that the information appearing in this reoffer prospectus, as well
as information we previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference,
is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our
business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects may have
changed since that date.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with the SEC, which means:

         -        incorporated documents are considered part of the reoffer
                  prospectus;

         -        we can disclose important information to you by referring you
                  to those documents; and

         -        information that we file with the SEC will automatically
                  update and supercede this reoffer prospectus.

         We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which we filed
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         -        our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                  December 31, 2000;

         -        our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended
                  March 31, 2001;

         -        our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2001; and

         -        the description of our capital stock contained in our
                  registration statement on Form 10, dated December 11, 1998, as
                  amended.

         You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning our Corporate Secretary at the following address:

         LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
         103 Powell Court, Suite 200
         Brentwood, Tennessee  37027
         Attention:  Corporate Secretary
         (615) 372-8500






                                       19
<PAGE>   22

         We also incorporate by reference each of the following documents that
we will file with the SEC after the date of this reoffer prospectus but before
all the common stock offered by this reoffer prospectus has been sold:

         -        reports filed under Sections 13(a) and (c) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934;

         -        definitive proxy or information statements filed under Section
                  14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in connection with
                  any subsequent stockholders' meeting; and

         -        any reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934.

         Any statements contained in this reoffer prospectus or in a document
incorporated by reference are modified or superseded for purposes of this
reoffer prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in any such document
modifies or supercedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superceded shall be deemed, as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this reoffer prospectus.









                                       20
<PAGE>   23

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which we filed
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         -        our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                  December 31, 2000;

         -        our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended
                  March 31, 2001;

         -        our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2001; and

         -        the description of our capital stock contained in our
                  registration statement on Form 10, dated December 11, 1998, as
                  amended.

         All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)
of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this registration statement and
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of directors to
the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that
directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages
for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for:

         -        breach of the director's duty of loyalty;

         -        acts or omissions not in good faith, intentional misconduct or
                  a knowing violation of the law;

         -        the unlawful payment of a dividend or unlawful stock purchase
                  or redemption; and

         -        any transaction from which the director derives an improper
                  personal benefit.

         This provision, however, has no effect on the availability of equitable
remedies such as an injunction or rescission. Additionally, this provision will
not limit liability under state or federal securities laws.

         Our certificate of incorporation also provides that we shall indemnify
our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by such law. In
addition, we maintain and pay premiums on



                                      II-1
<PAGE>   24

an insurance policy on behalf of our officers and directors covering losses
arising from claims based on breaches of duty, negligence, error and other
wrongful acts.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         We have relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act with respect to
the restricted securities to be reoffered or resold pursuant to this
registration statement. These securities were issued pursuant to our Executive
Stock Purchase Plan to officers of LifePoint.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                     Description
------                     -----------

<S>      <C>
4.1      Certificate of Incorporation of LifePoint (a)

4.2      Bylaws of LifePoint (a)

4.3      Form of Specimen Certificate for LifePoint Common Stock (b)

4.4      Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between LifePoint and
         National City Bank as rights agent (a)

5.1      Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC

23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2     Consent Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1     Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

99.1     LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (a)
</TABLE>

-----

(a)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999,
         File No. 0-29818.

(b)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         registration statement on Form 10 under the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended, File No. 0-29818.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

             (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                 (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
             the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
             after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
             recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
             the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
             set forth in the registration statement; and




                                      II-2
<PAGE>   25

                 (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
             plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
             statement or any material change to such information in the
             registration statement;

provided however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.

             (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

             (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.




                                      II-3
<PAGE>   26

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Brentwood, state of Tennessee, as of the 31st day of
July, 2001.


                                    LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.



                                    By: /s/ Kenneth C. Donahey
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Kenneth C. Donahey
                                        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, each person whose signature appears
below on this registration statement hereby constitutes and appoints Kenneth C.
Donahey and William F. Carpenter III, or either of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (until
revoked in writing) to sign this Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact
and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              Name                                Title                           Date
              ----                                -----                           ----

<S>                                   <C>                                     <C>
/s/ Kenneth C. Donahey                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer    July 31, 2001
----------------------------------    (Principal Executive and Financial
Kenneth C. Donahey                    Officer)


/s/ Roberto G. Pantoja                Vice President and Controller           July 31, 2001
----------------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)
Roberto G. Pantoja


/s/ Ricki Tigert Helfer               Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
Ricki Tigert Helfer

/s/ John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S.       Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S.

/s/ DeWitt Ezell, Jr.                 Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
DeWitt Ezell, Jr.

/s/ William V. Lapham                 Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
William V. Lapham

/s/ Richard H. Evans                  Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
Richard H. Evans
</TABLE>










                                      II-4
<PAGE>   27

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                     Description
------                     -----------

<S>      <C>
4.1      Certificate of Incorporation of LifePoint (a)

4.2      Bylaws of LifePoint (a)

4.3      Form of Specimen Certificate for LifePoint Common Stock (b)

4.4      Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between LifePoint and
         National City Bank as rights agent (a)

5.1      Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC

23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2     Consent of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1     Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

99.1     LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (a)
</TABLE>

-----

(a)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999,
         File No. 0-29818.

(b)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         registration statement on Form 10 under the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended, File No. 0-29818.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "g70789s-8.txt", "description": "LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS", "secsgml_size_bytes": 75345}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS INC", "cik": "0001074772", "assigned-sic": "8062", "irs-number": "522165845", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-66378", "film-number": "1694181"}, "business-address": {"street1": "103 POWELL COURT", "street2": "SUITE 200", "city": "BRENTWOOD", "state": "TN", "zip": "37027", "phone": "6153728500"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "4525 HARDING RD", "city": "NASHVILLE", "state": "TN", "zip": "37205"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS LLC", "date-changed": "19981207"}}
1

      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 31, 2001
                                                     Registration No. 333-______
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              --------------------

                            LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Delaware                                  52-2165845
    (State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
    incorporation or organization)

      103 Powell Court, Suite 200                           37027
         Brentwood, Tennessee                            (Zip Code)
    (Address of Principal Executive
               Offices)

             LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)

                         William F. Carpenter III, Esq.
              Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                            LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
                           103 Powell Court, Suite 200
                           Brentwood, Tennessee 37027
                                 (615) 372-8500
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                         ------------------------------

                                   Copies to:
                              Paul D. Gilbert, Esq.
                         Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis,
                    A Professional Limited Liability Company
                          511 Union Street, Suite 2100
                           Nashville, Tennessee 37219

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
============================================================================================================

                                                        PROPOSED MAXIMUM   PROPOSED MAXIMUM  AMOUNT OF
                                          AMOUNT TO BE   OFFERING PRICE       AGGREGATE     REGISTRATION
 TITLE OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED    REGISTERED (1)   PER SHARE (2)     OFFERING PRICE    FEE (3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.01 par value (4)        560,975 shares       $42.09          $23,611,438       $5,903
============================================================================================================
(1)  Consists of shares of common stock which have been issued under the
     LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan and are being
     registered for resale. This registration statement also covers any
     additional shares of common stock which become issuable in connection with
     the shares registered for sale hereby by reason of any stock dividend,
     stock split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or reorganization of
     or by the registrant which results in an increase in the number of shares
     of our common stock.

(2)  Estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant
     to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based upon
     the average high and low sales reported on the Nasdaq National Market on
     July 26, 2001.

(3)  Pursuant to Rule 457(p) of the Securities Act, the registrant hereby
     offsets the registration fee required in connection with this registration
     statement by the amount of $1,110 previously paid in connection with the
     registrant's registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
     333-55824) filed February 16, 2001 relating to securities registered
     thereunder that remain unsold.

(4)  Includes the Series A preferred stock purchase rights associated with the
     common stock.

================================================================================
2
                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

         We have prepared this registration statement in accordance with the
requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, to
register shares of our common stock, par value $.01 per share, issued pursuant
to our Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         Filed as part of this registration statement on Form S-8 is a reoffer
prospectus that we have prepared in accordance with Part I of Form S-3 under the
Securities Act. The reoffer prospectus may be utilized for reofferings and
resales of up to 560,975 shares of common stock which have been issued to the
selling stockholders under the plan.
3

REOFFER PROSPECTUS

                            LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.

                         560,975 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK

         This reoffer prospectus relates to 560,975 shares of LifePoint
Hospitals, Inc. common stock acquired by the individuals listed under the
"Selling Stockholders" section of this reoffer prospectus pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The shares covered by this reoffer prospectus may
be offered for sale by the selling stockholders from time to time in ordinary
brokerage transactions on the Nasdaq National Market at market prices prevailing
at the time of the sale or in one or more negotiated transactions at prices
acceptable to the respective selling stockholder.

         The shares covered by this reoffer prospectus are "restricted
securities" under the Securities Act before their sale under the reoffer
prospectus. The reoffer prospectus has been prepared for the purpose of
registering the shares under the Securities Act to allow for future sales by the
selling stockholders to the public without restriction. To our knowledge, the
selling stockholders have no arrangement with any brokerage firm for the sale of
the shares covered by this reoffer prospectus. The selling stockholders may be
deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any
commissions received by a broker or dealer in connection with resales of the
shares may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the
Securities Act.

         Our common stock is traded on Nasdaq under the symbol "LPNT." On July
30, 2001, the last sale price for our common stock as quoted on Nasdaq was
$42.83 per share.

         INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES RISKS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE
"RISK FACTORS" SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 OF THIS REOFFER PROSPECTUS.

                                   ----------

         Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                                   ----------

             The date of this reoffer prospectus is July 31, 2001.
4

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS REOFFER PROSPECTUS...................................3

ABOUT THE COMPANY...........................................................3

RISK FACTORS................................................................6

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.................................................15

USE OF PROCEEDS............................................................17

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS.......................................................17

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.......................................................18

EXPERTS ...................................................................18

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION........................................19

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE..........................19
2
5

                    SHARES SUBJECT TO THIS REOFFER PROSPECTUS

         This reoffer prospectus relates to 560,975 shares of LifePoint
Hospitals, Inc. common stock acquired by selling stockholders pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The selling stockholders are senior management
employees of the company.

         On May 11, 1999, the selling stockholders acquired an aggregate of
560,975 shares of common stock under our Executive Stock Purchase Plan. The
company loaned the selling stockholders the money necessary to purchase these
shares. These loans are evidenced by full-recourse promissory notes payable by
the respective selling stockholders to the company. Under the Executive Stock
Purchase Plan, after May 11, 2001, the selling stockholders may sell that number
of shares purchased under the plan necessary to repay their loans from the
company and to pay associated expenses and fees.

         The shares covered by this reoffer prospectus are "restricted
securities" under the Securities Act before their sale under the reoffer
prospectus. The reoffer prospectus has been prepared for the purpose of
registering the shares under the Securities Act to allow for future sales by the
selling stockholders to the public without restriction.

                                ABOUT THE COMPANY
WHO WE ARE

         We operate 21 general, acute care hospitals with an aggregate of 1,963
licensed beds in growing, non-urban communities. In all but one of our
communities, our hospital is the only provider of acute care hospital services.
Our hospitals are located in Alabama, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Utah
and Wyoming.

THE NON-URBAN HEALTHCARE MARKET

         We believe that growing, non-urban healthcare markets are attractive
because of the following factors:

         -        LESS COMPETITION. Non-urban communities have smaller
                  populations with fewer hospitals and other healthcare service
                  providers. We believe that the smaller populations and the
                  relative significance of the one or two acute care hospitals
                  in these markets discourage the entry of new providers.

         -        MORE FAVORABLE PAYMENT ENVIRONMENT. Non-urban hospitals can
                  often negotiate reimbursement rates with managed care plans
                  that are more favorable, in general, than those available in
                  urban markets. Moreover, when compared to acute care hospitals
                  in urban markets, acute care hospitals in non-urban markets
                  generally receive a lower percentage of their revenues from
                  managed care payors, such as HMOs and PPOs.

         -        COMMUNITY FOCUS. We believe that non-urban areas generally
                  view the local hospitals as an integral part of the community.

         -        ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES. Not-for-profit and governmental
                  entities own most non-urban hospitals. These entities
                  typically have limited access to capital and sometimes

                                       3
6

                  lack management resources. As a result, we believe that many
                  non-urban hospitals are attractive acquisition candidates.

OPERATING PHILOSOPHY

         We are committed to operating acute care hospitals in growing,
non-urban markets. As a result, we adhere to an operating philosophy that is
focused on the unique patient and provider needs and opportunities in these
communities. This philosophy includes a commitment to:

         -        improving the quality and scope of available healthcare
                  services;

         -        providing physicians a positive environment in which to
                  practice medicine, with access to necessary equipment and
                  resources;

         -        providing an outstanding work environment for employees;

         -        recognizing and expanding the hospital's role as a community
                  asset; and

         -        continuing to improve each hospital's financial performance.

BUSINESS STRATEGY

         We manage our hospitals in accordance with our operating philosophy and
have developed the following strategies tailored for each of our markets:

         -        EXPAND BREADTH OF SERVICE AND ATTRACT COMMUNITY PATIENTS. We
                  strive to increase revenues by improving the quality and
                  broadening the scope of healthcare services available at our
                  facilities. We believe these actions will encourage patients
                  to seek care at our hospitals rather than at competing
                  facilities in other communities.

         -        STRENGTHEN PHYSICIAN RECRUITING AND RETENTION. We seek to
                  enhance the quality of care available locally by recruiting
                  and retaining physicians for our non-urban communities. We
                  continue to recruit physicians from a broad range of
                  specialties targeted to the needs of each community.

         -        RETAIN AND DEVELOP STABLE MANAGEMENT. We seek to retain the
                  executive teams at our hospitals to enhance medical staff
                  relations and maintain continuity of relationships within the
                  community.

         -        IMPROVE MANAGED CARE POSITION. We strive to improve our
                  revenues from managed care plans by negotiating
                  facility-specific contracts with these payors on terms
                  appropriate for smaller, non-urban markets. When we operated
                  as a division of HCA, we did not have the ability to negotiate
                  facility-specific managed care agreements and were often tied
                  to arrangements more favorable to HCA's urban hospitals.

         -        IMPROVE EXPENSE MANAGEMENT. We seek to control costs by, among
                  other things, reducing labor costs, improving labor
                  productivity, controlling supply expenses and reducing
                  uncollectible revenues. We believe that as our company grows,
                  we will likely benefit from our ability to spread fixed
                  administrative costs over a larger base of operations.

         -        ACQUIRE OTHER HOSPITALS. We continue to pursue a disciplined
                  acquisition strategy and seek to identify and acquire
                  attractive hospitals in growing, non-urban markets.

                                       4
7

OUR FORMATION

         We were formed as a division of HCA in November 1997 to operate
general, acute care hospitals in non-urban communities. We became an
independent, publicly-traded company on May 11, 1999 when HCA distributed all
outstanding shares of our common stock to its stockholders.

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES

         Our principal executive offices are located at 103 Powell Court, Suite
200, Brentwood, Tennessee 37027, and our telephone number is 615-372-8500. Our
World Wide Web address is www.lifepointhospitals.com. Information in the website
is not part of this reoffer prospectus and should not be considered part of this
reoffer prospectus.

                                       5
8

                                  RISK FACTORS

         In evaluating an investment in our common stock, you should carefully
consider the following factors in addition to the other information included in
or incorporated by reference in this reoffer prospectus.

OUR REVENUES MAY DECLINE IF FEDERAL OR STATE PROGRAMS REDUCE MEDICARE OR
MEDICAID PAYMENTS OR MANAGED CARE COMPANIES REDUCE REIMBURSEMENT FOR SERVICES
PROVIDED BY OUR HOSPITALS.

         For the year ended December 31, 2000 and for the six months ended June
30, 2001, we derived 47.0% and 48.9%, respectively, of our revenues from the
Medicare and Medicaid programs. In recent years, federal and state governments
made significant changes in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These changes
have decreased the amounts of money we receive for our services to patients who
participate in these programs.

         In recent years, Congress and some state legislatures have introduced
an increasing number of other proposals to make major changes in the healthcare
system. Medicare-reimbursed, hospital-outpatient services converted to a
prospective payment system on August 1, 2000. This system creates limitations on
levels of payment for a substantial portion of hospital outpatient procedures.
Future federal and state legislation may further reduce the payments we receive
for our services.

         A number of states have adopted legislation designed to reduce their
Medicaid expenditures and to provide universal coverage and additional care to
their residents. Some states propose to enroll Medicaid recipients in managed
care programs and impose additional taxes on hospitals to help finance or expand
the states' Medicaid systems.

         In addition, insurance and managed care companies and other third
parties from whom we receive payment for our services increasingly attempt to
control healthcare costs by requiring that hospitals discount their fees in
exchange for exclusive or preferred participation in their benefit plans. We
believe that this trend may continue and may reduce the payments we receive for
our services.

WE MAY BE SUBJECTED TO ALLEGATIONS THAT WE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH GOVERNMENTAL
REGULATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN SANCTIONS THAT REDUCE OUR REVENUE AND
PROFITABILITY.

         All participants in the healthcare industry are required to comply with
many laws and regulations at the federal, state and local government levels.
These laws and regulations require that hospitals meet various requirements,
including those relating to the adequacy of medical care, equipment, personnel,
operating policies and procedures, maintenance of adequate records, privacy,
compliance with building codes and environmental protection. These laws often
contain safe harbor provisions which describe some of the conduct and business
relationships that are immune from prosecution. Some of our current business
arrangements do not qualify for a safe harbor. This does not automatically
render our arrangements illegal. However, we may be subject to scrutiny by
enforcement authorities. If we fail to comply with applicable laws and
regulations, we could suffer civil or criminal penalties, including the loss of
our licenses to operate our hospitals and our ability to participate in the
Medicare, Medicaid and other federal and state healthcare programs.

         Significant media and public attention recently has focused on the
hospital industry due to ongoing investigations related to referrals, cost
reporting and billing practices, laboratory and home healthcare services,
physician ownership and joint ventures involving hospitals. Both federal and
state government agencies have announced heightened and coordinated civil and
criminal

                                       6
9

enforcement efforts. In addition, the Office of the Inspector General of the
United States Department of Health and Human Services and the United States
Department of Justice periodically establish enforcement initiatives that focus
on specific billing practices or other suspected areas of abuse. Recent
initiatives include a focus on hospital billing practices.

         In public statements, governmental authorities have taken positions on
issues for which little official interpretation was previously available. Some
of these positions appear to be inconsistent with common practices within the
industry and which have not previously been challenged in this manner. Moreover,
some government investigations that have in the past been conducted under the
civil provisions of federal law are now being conducted as criminal
investigations under the Medicare fraud and abuse laws.

         The laws and regulations that we must comply with are complex and
subject to change. In the future, different interpretations or enforcement of
these laws and regulations could subject our current practices to allegations of
impropriety or illegality or could require us to make changes in our facilities,
equipment, personnel, services, capital expenditure programs and operating
expenses.

IF WE FAIL TO EFFECTIVELY RECRUIT AND RETAIN PHYSICIANS AND NURSES OUR ABILITY
TO DELIVER HEALTHCARE SERVICES EFFICIENTLY WILL SUFFER.

         Physicians generally direct the majority of hospital admissions. Our
success, in part, depends on the number and quality of physicians on our
hospitals' medical staffs, the admissions practices of these physicians and the
maintenance of good relations with these physicians. We generally do not employ
physicians. Only a limited number of physicians practice in the non-urban
communities where our hospitals are located. Our primary method of adding or
expanding medical services is the recruitment of new physicians into our
communities.

         The success of our recruiting efforts depends on several factors. In
general, there is a shortage of specialty care physicians. We face intense
competition in the recruitment of specialists because of the difficulty
convincing these individuals of the benefits of practicing in a rural community.
Physicians are concerned with the patient volume in rural hospitals and whether
the volume will allow them to generate income comparable to that which they
would generate in an urban setting. If the trend in the United States over the
last several years to move out of cities and into more rural areas changes and
the growth rate in the rural communities where our hospitals operate slows, then
we could experience difficulty attracting physicians to practice in our
communities.

         There is generally a shortage of nurses. Our hospitals may be forced to
hire expensive contract nurses if they are unable to recruit and retain nurses.
The shortage of nurses may affect our hospitals' ability to deliver healthcare
services efficiently.

OUR REVENUE IS HEAVILY CONCENTRATED IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE, WHICH MAKES US
PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC CHANGES IN THOSE STATES.

         Our revenue is particularly sensitive to regulatory and economic
changes in the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. As of December 31, 2000, we
operated 20 hospitals with six located in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and six
located in the State of Tennessee. We generated 38.8% of our revenue from our
Kentucky hospitals and 20.7% from our Tennessee hospitals for the year ended
December 31, 2000. Effective January 2, 2001, we began operating Bluegrass
Community Hospital in Versailles, Kentucky. Based on our operation of 21
hospitals this year, we generated 39.8% of our revenue from our Kentucky
hospitals and 21.7% from our Tennessee hospitals for the six months ended June
30, 2001. One managed care organization that participates in Tennessee's
Medicaid program has been placed in rehabilitation by the State of Tennessee,
and one managed care organization in

                                       7
10

Kentucky has been placed in receivership by the State of Kentucky. Other managed
care organizations in the states in which we derive significant revenue may
encounter similar difficulties in paying claims in the future.

WE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY ACQUIRING HOSPITALS ON FAVORABLE TERMS, AVOIDING UNKNOWN
OR CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OF ACQUIRED HOSPITALS AND, BECAUSE OF REGULATORY
SCRUTINY, ACQUIRING NONPROFIT ENTITIES.

         One element of our business strategy is expansion through the
acquisition of acute care hospitals in growing, non-urban markets. We face
significant competition to acquire other attractive, rural hospitals. We may not
find suitable acquisitions on favorable terms. We also may incur or assume
additional indebtedness as a result of the consummation of any acquisitions. In
addition, in order to ensure the tax-free treatment of the distribution of our
stock from HCA, our ability to issue stock as consideration for acquisitions is
limited. Our failure to acquire non-urban hospitals consistent with our growth
plans could prevent us from increasing our revenues.

         We also may acquire businesses with unknown or contingent liabilities,
including liabilities for failure to comply with healthcare laws and
regulations. We have policies to conform the practices of acquired facilities to
our standards and applicable law and generally will seek indemnification from
prospective sellers covering these matters. We may, however, incur material
liabilities for past activities of acquired businesses.

         In recent years, the legislatures and attorneys general of several
states have become more interested in sales of hospitals by not-for-profit
entities. This heightened scrutiny may increase the cost and difficulty, or
prevent our completion, of transactions with not-for-profit organizations in the
future.

CERTIFICATE OF NEED LAWS MAY PROHIBIT OR LIMIT ANY FUTURE EXPANSION BY US IN
STATES WITH THESE LAWS.

         Some states require prior approval for the purchase, construction and
expansion of health care facilities, based on a state's determination of need
for additional or expanded health care facilities or services. Four states in
which we currently own hospitals, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee,
require a certificate of need for capital expenditures exceeding a prescribed
amount, changes in bed capacity or services and certain other matters. We may
not be able to obtain certificates of need required for expansion activities in
the future. If we fail to obtain any required certificate of need, our ability
to operate or expand operations in these states could be impaired.

OUR ABILITY TO INCUR SUBSTANTIAL DEBT COULD CAUSE US TO BECOME A HIGHLY
LEVERAGED COMPANY.

         On June 19, 2001, we completed a $200 million, five-year amended and
restated credit agreement that increased the amount we may draw on our revolving
credit commitment from $65 million to $200 million and extended the current
credit agreement to five years. At June 30, 2001, we had not made a draw under
this new credit agreement. We have the ability to incur additional debt, subject
to limitations imposed by our credit agreement and the indenture governing the
notes issued by our subsidiary, LifePoint Hospitals Holdings, Inc. At June 30,
2001, our consolidated long-term debt, attributed solely to these notes, equaled
approximately $150 million. Any substantial increase in our debt levels could
have important consequences to our stockholders, including the following:

         -        make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and to adverse
                  changes in business conditions, such as further limitations on
                  reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid programs;

                                       8
11

         -        limit our ability to obtain additional financing in the future
                  for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions,
                  general corporate purposes or other purposes;

         -        require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow
                  from operations to the payment of principal and interest on
                  any indebtedness, reducing the funds available for our
                  operations;

         -        make us vulnerable to increases in interest rates if our
                  borrowings are at variable rates of interest; and

         -        require us to pay the indebtedness immediately if we default
                  on any of the numerous financial and other restrictive
                  covenants, including restrictions on our payments of
                  dividends, incurrences of indebtedness and sale of assets.

FEDERAL AND STATE INVESTIGATIONS OF HCA COULD SUBJECT OUR HOSPITALS AND
OPERATIONS TO INCREASED GOVERNMENTAL SCRUTINY.

         HCA is currently the subject of various federal and state
investigations, qui tam actions, shareholder derivative and class action suits,
patient/payer actions and general liability claims. HCA is also the subject of a
formal order of investigation by the SEC. HCA understands that the SEC's
investigation includes the anti-fraud, insider trading, periodic reporting and
internal accounting control provisions of the federal securities laws. These
investigations, actions and claims relate to HCA and its subsidiaries, including
subsidiaries that, before our formation as an independent company, owned the
facilities we now own.

         HCA is a defendant in several qui tam actions, or actions brought by
private parties, known as relators, on behalf of the United States of America,
which have been unsealed and served on HCA. The actions allege, in general, that
HCA and certain subsidiaries and/or affiliated partnerships violated the False
Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. ss. 3729 et seq., by submitting improper claims to the
government for reimbursement. The lawsuits seek three times the amount of
damages caused to the United States by the submission of any Medicare or
Medicaid false claims presented by the defendants to the federal government,
civil penalties of not less than $5,000 nor more than $10,000 for each such
Medicare or Medicaid claim, attorneys' fees and costs. HCA has disclosed that,
on March 15, 2001, the Department of Justice filed a status report setting forth
the government's decisions regarding intervention in existing qui tam actions
against HCA and filed formal complaints for those suits in which the government
has intervened. HCA stated that, of the original 30 qui tam actions, the
Department of Justice remains active and has elected to intervene in eight
actions. HCA has also disclosed that it is aware of additional qui tam actions
that remain under seal and believes that there may be other sealed qui tam cases
of which it is unaware.

         On December 14, 2000, HCA announced that it signed an agreement with
the Department of Justice and four U.S. attorneys' offices resolving all pending
federal criminal issues in the government's investigation. The criminal
agreement has been accepted by the federal district courts. The criminal
agreement provided that HCA pay the government $95 million, which payment was
made during the first quarter of 2001, and that two non-operating subsidiaries
enter certain criminal pleas, which pleas were entered in January 2001.

         HCA also announced that it signed a civil settlement agreement with the
Department of Justice resolving civil false claims issues related to DRG coding,
outpatient laboratory and home health. The civil settlement agreement provides
that in return for releases on these issues, HCA will pay the government $745
million, with interest accruing from May 18, 2000 to the payment date at a rate
of 6.5%. The civil payment will be made upon receipt of court approval of the
settlement. The

                                       9
12

civil issues that are not covered by the civil agreement include claims related
to cost reports and physician relations issues.

         The agreements announced on December 14, 2000 relate only to conduct
that was the subject of the federal investigations resolved in the agreements,
and HCA has stated publicly that it continues to discuss civil claims relating
to cost reporting and physician relations with the government. These agreements
with the government do not resolve various qui tam actions filed by private
parties against HCA, or any pending state actions. In addition to other claims
not covered by these agreements, the government also reserved its rights under
these agreements to pursue any claims it may have for:

         -        any civil, criminal or administrative liability under the
                  Internal Revenue Code;

         -        any other criminal liability;

         -        any administrative liability, including mandatory exclusion
                  from federal health care programs;

         -        any liability to the United States (or its agencies) for any
                  conduct other than the conduct covered in the government's
                  investigation;

         -        any express or implied warranty claims or other claims for
                  defective or deficient products or services, including quality
                  of goods and services, provided by HCA;

         -        any claims for personal injury or property damage or for other
                  similar consequential damages arising from the conduct subject
                  to the investigation; and

         -        any civil or administrative claims of the United States
                  against individuals.

         In addition, five of our current and former hospitals received notices
in early 2001 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMMS"),
formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration, a United States
government agency that runs the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The notices
stated that CMMS was re-opening, for examination, cost reports for Medicare and
Medicaid reimbursement filed by these hospitals for periods between 1993 and
1998, which pre-dates our spin-off from HCA.

         HCA has agreed to indemnify us for any losses, other than consequential
damages, arising from the pending governmental investigations of HCA's business
practices prior to the date of the distribution and losses arising from legal
proceedings, present or future, related to the investigation or actions engaged
in before the distribution that relate to the investigation. HCA has also agreed
that, in the event that any hospital owned by us at the time of the spin-off is
permanently excluded from participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs as
a result of the proceedings described above, then HCA will make a cash payment
to us, in an amount (if positive) equal to five times the excluded hospital's
1998 income from continuing operations before depreciation and amortization,
interest expense, management fees, impairment of long-lived assets, minority
interests and income taxes, as set forth on a schedule to the distribution
agreement, less the net proceeds of the sale or other disposition of the
excluded hospital. However, we could be held responsible for any claims that are
not covered by the agreements reached with the federal government or for which
HCA is not required to, or fails to, indemnify us. If indemnified matters were
asserted successfully against us or any of our facilities, and HCA failed to
meet its indemnification obligations, then this event could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or
prospects.

                                       10
13

         The extent to which we may or may not continue to be affected by the
ongoing investigations of HCA and the initiation of additional investigations,
if any, cannot be predicted. These matters could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects in
future periods.

WE DEPEND SIGNIFICANTLY ON KEY PERSONNEL, AND THE LOSS OF ONE OR MORE SENIOR OR
LOCAL MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL COULD LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO EXECUTE OUR BUSINESS
STRATEGY.

         We depend on the continued services and management experience of
Kenneth C. Donahey and our other executive officers. If Mr. Donahey or any of
our other executive officers resign their positions or otherwise are unable to
serve, our management expertise and ability to deliver healthcare services
efficiently could be weakened. In addition, if we fail to attract and retain
managers at our hospitals and related facilities our operations will suffer.

OTHER HOSPITALS PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES, WHICH MAY RAISE THE LEVEL OF
COMPETITION FACED BY OUR HOSPITALS.

         Competition among hospitals and other healthcare providers for patients
has intensified in recent years. All but one of our hospitals operate in
geographic areas where we are currently the sole provider of hospital services
in these communities. While our hospitals face less direct competition in our
immediate service areas, we do compete with other hospitals, including larger
tertiary care centers. Although these competing hospitals may be in excess of 30
to 50 miles away from our facilities, patients in these markets may migrate to,
may be referred by local physicians to, or may be lured by incentives from
managed care plans to travel to these distant hospitals. Some of these competing
hospitals use equipment and services more specialized than those available at
our hospitals. In addition, some of the hospitals that compete with us are owned
by tax-supported governmental agencies or not-for-profit entities supported by
endowments and charitable contributions. These hospitals can make capital
expenditures without paying sales, property and income taxes. We also face
competition from other specialized care providers, including outpatient surgery,
orthopedic, oncology and diagnostic centers.

WE HAVE LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY AS AN INDEPENDENT COMPANY.

         Prior to May 11, 1999, we operated as the America Group division of
HCA. Accordingly, we do not have a long operating history as an independent,
publicly-traded company. Before the distribution of our stock from HCA, we
historically relied on HCA for various financial, administrative and managerial
expertise relevant to the conduct of our business. HCA continues to provide some
support services to us on a contractual basis. We did not generate a profit for
1999. Although we generated a profit in 2000, we may not have net profits in the
future.

IF OUR ACCESS TO HCA'S INFORMATION SYSTEMS IS RESTRICTED OR WE ARE NOT ABLE TO
INTEGRATE CHANGES TO OUR EXISTING INFORMATION SYSTEMS, OUR OPERATIONS COULD
SUFFER.

         Our business depends significantly on effective information systems to
process clinical and financial information. Information systems require an
ongoing commitment of significant resources to maintain and enhance existing
systems and develop new systems in order to keep pace with continuing changes in
information processing technology. We rely heavily on HCA for information
systems. Under a contract with an initial term that will expire on May 11, 2006,
HCA provides financial, clinical, patient accounting and network information
services to us. If our access to these systems is limited in the future or if
HCA develops systems more appropriate for the urban healthcare market and not
suited for our hospitals, our operations could suffer. In addition, as new
information systems are developed, we must integrate them into our existing
systems. Evolving industry and regulatory standards, including the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability

                                       11
14

Act of 1996, commonly known as "HIPAA," may require changes to our information
systems. We may not be able to integrate new systems or changes required to our
existing systems in the future effectively.

IF WE FAIL TO COMPLY WITH OUR CORPORATE INTEGRITY AGREEMENT, WE COULD BE
REQUIRED TO PAY SIGNIFICANT MONETARY PENALTIES.

         In December 2000, we entered into a corporate integrity agreement with
the Office of Inspector General. Under this agreement, we have an affirmative
obligation to report violations of applicable laws and regulations. This
obligation could result in greater scrutiny of us by regulatory authorities.
Complying with our corporate integrity agreement will require additional efforts
and costs. Our failure to comply with the terms of the corporate integrity
agreement could subject us to significant monetary penalties.

IF WE BECOME SUBJECT TO MALPRACTICE AND RELATED LEGAL CLAIMS, WE COULD BE
REQUIRED TO PAY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES.

         In recent years, physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers
have become subject to an increasing number of legal actions alleging
malpractice or related legal theories. Many of these actions involve large
claims and significant defense costs. To protect ourselves from the cost of
these claims, we generally maintain professional malpractice liability insurance
and general liability insurance coverage in amounts and with deductibles that we
believe to be appropriate for our operations. However, our insurance coverage
may not cover all claims against us or continue to be available at a reasonable
cost for us to maintain adequate levels of insurance.

WE COULD INCUR SUBSTANTIAL LIABILITY IF THE DISTRIBUTION OF OUR STOCK FROM HCA
WERE TO BE TAXABLE.

         On March 30, 1999, HCA received a private letter ruling from the
Internal Revenue Service concerning the United States federal income tax
consequences of the distribution by HCA of our common stock and the common stock
of Triad Hospitals, Inc., a publicly-traded company comprising the former
Pacific Group of HCA, and the restructuring transactions that preceded the
distribution. The private letter ruling provides that the distribution generally
was tax-free to HCA and HCA's stockholders, except for any cash received instead
of fractional shares. The IRS has issued additional private letter rulings that
supplement its March 30, 1999 ruling stating that certain transactions occurring
after the distribution do not adversely affect the private letter rulings
previously issued by the IRS. The March 30, 1999 ruling and the supplemental
rulings are based on the accuracy of representations as to numerous factual
matters and as to certain intentions of HCA, Triad and LifePoint. The inaccuracy
of any of those representations could cause the IRS to revoke all or part of any
of the rulings retroactively.

         If the distribution were to fail to qualify for tax-free treatment,
then, in general, additional corporate tax, which would be substantial, would be
payable by the consolidated group of which HCA is the common parent. Each member
of HCA's consolidated group at the time of the distribution, including
LifePoint, would be jointly and severally liable for this tax liability. In
addition, LifePoint entered into a tax sharing and indemnification agreement
with HCA and Triad, which prohibits LifePoint from taking actions that could
jeopardize the tax treatment of either the distribution or the restructuring
transactions that preceded the distribution, and requires LifePoint to indemnify
HCA and Triad for any taxes or other losses that result from LifePoint's
actions, which amounts could be substantial. If LifePoint were required to make
any indemnity payments or otherwise were liable for additional taxes relating to
the distribution, LifePoint's results of operations could be materially
adversely affected.

                                       12
15

WE DEPEND ON DIVIDENDS AND OTHER INTERCOMPANY TRANSFERS OF FUNDS TO MEET OUR
FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS.

         We are a holding company and hold most of our assets and conduct most
of our operations through direct and indirect subsidiaries. As a holding
company, our results of operations depend on the results of operations of our
subsidiaries. Moreover, we depend on dividends and other intercompany transfers
of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service and other obligations,
including payment of principal and interest on the senior subordinated notes
issued by our subsidiary, LifePoint Hospitals Holdings, Inc. The ability of our
subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments or advances will depend on
their operating results and will be subject to applicable laws and restrictions
contained in agreements governing indebtedness of these subsidiaries.

OUR ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS MAY DISCOURAGE ACQUISITIONS OF CONTROL EVEN THOUGH
OUR STOCKHOLDERS MAY CONSIDER THESE PROPOSALS DESIRABLE.

         Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may have the
effect of discouraging an acquisition of control not approved by our board of
directors. These provisions include:

         -        the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock by the board of
                  directors without stockholder approval;

         -        higher stockholder voting requirements for some transactions,
                  including business combinations with related parties (i.e., a
                  "fair price provision");

         -        a prohibition on taking actions by the written consent of
                  stockholders;

         -        restrictions on the persons eligible to call a special meeting
                  of stockholders;

         -        classification of the board of directors into three classes;
                  and

         -        the removal of directors only for cause and by a vote of 80%
                  of the outstanding voting power.

         These provisions may also have the effect of discouraging third parties
from making proposals involving our acquisition or change of control, although a
proposal, if made, might be considered desirable by a majority of our
stockholders. These provisions could further have the effect of making it more
difficult for third parties to cause the replacement of our board of directors.

         We have also adopted a stockholder rights plan. This stockholder rights
plan is designed to protect stockholders in the event of an unsolicited offer
and other takeover tactics which, in the opinion of the board of directors,
could impair our ability to represent stockholder interests. The provisions of
this stockholder rights plan may render an unsolicited takeover more difficult
or might prevent a takeover.

         Provisions of the tax sharing and indemnification agreement that are
intended to preserve the tax-free status of the distribution could also
discourage takeover proposals or make them more expensive.

         We are subject to provisions of Delaware corporate law which may also
restrict some business combination transactions. Delaware law may further
discourage, delay or prevent someone from acquiring or merging with us.

                                       13
16

WE HAVE NEVER PAID AND HAVE NO CURRENT PLANS TO PAY A DIVIDEND ON OUR COMMON
SHARES.

         We have never paid a cash dividend and we do not anticipate paying any
cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Our senior credit facility also
restricts the payment of cash dividends. If we incur any future indebtedness to
refinance our existing indebtedness or to fund our future growth, our ability to
pay dividends may be further restricted by the terms of this indebtedness.

OUR STOCK PRICE HAS BEEN AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE VOLATILE.

         The trading price of our common stock has been and may continue to be
subject to wide fluctuations. Our stock price may fluctuate in response to a
number of events and factors, including:

         -        quarterly variations in operating results;

         -        changes in financial estimates and recommendations by
                  securities analysts;

         -        the operating and stock price performance of other companies
                  that investors may deem comparable; and

         -        news reports relating to trends in our markets.

         Broad market and industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price
of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.

                                       14
17

                           FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

         This reoffer prospectus and other materials we have filed or may file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as information included in
oral statements or other written statements made, or to be made, by us, contain,
or will contain, disclosures which are "forward-looking statements."
Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to
historical or current facts and can be identified by the use of words such as
"may", "believe", "will", "expect", "project", "estimate", "anticipate", "plan"
or "continue." These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans
and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties
and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations and
future financial condition and results. These factors include, but are not
limited to:

         -        the highly competitive nature of the healthcare business
                  including the competition to recruit general and specialized
                  physicians;

         -        the efforts of insurers, healthcare providers and others to
                  contain healthcare costs;

         -        possible changes in the Medicare program that may further
                  limit reimbursements to healthcare providers and insurers;

         -        changes in federal, state or local regulation affecting the
                  healthcare industry;

         -        the possible enactment of federal or state healthcare reform;

         -        the ability to attract and retain qualified management and
                  personnel, including physicians and nurses, consistent with
                  our expectations and targets;

         -        our ability to acquire hospitals on favorable terms;

         -        liabilities and other claims asserted against us;

         -        uncertainty associated with the newly issued HIPAA
                  regulations;

         -        the ability to enter into, renegotiate and renew payor
                  arrangements on acceptable terms;

         -        the availability and terms of capital to fund our business
                  strategy;

         -        implementation of our business strategy and development plans;

         -        our ongoing efforts to monitor, maintain and comply with
                  applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures
                  including those required by the corporate integrity agreement
                  that we entered into with the government in December, 2000;

         -        the ability to increase patient volumes and control the costs
                  of providing services and supply costs;

         -        successful development or license, performance and use of
                  management information systems, including software for
                  efficient claims processing;

         -        limitations placed on us to preserve the tax treatment of the
                  distribution of our common stock from HCA;

         -        fluctuations in the market value of our common stock;

                                       15
18

         -        changes in accounting practices;

         -        changes in general economic conditions; and

         -        other risk factors described in this reoffer prospectus.

         As a consequence, current plans, anticipated actions and future
financial conditions and results may differ from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of our company. We undertake no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned
not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements when evaluating the
information presented in this reoffer prospectus.

                                       16
19

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

         We will not receive any proceeds from this offering.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

         The selling stockholders consist of seven officers of our company who
acquired an aggregate of 560,975 shares of our common stock pursuant to our
Executive Stock Purchase Plan.

         We are registering all 560,975 shares covered by this reoffer
prospectus on behalf of the selling stockholders named in the table below. We
are registering the shares to permit the selling stockholders and their
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors-in-interest that receive their
shares from selling stockholders as a gift, partnership distribution or another
non-sale related transfer after the date of this reoffer prospectus to resell
the shares when they deem appropriate. We refer to all of these possible sellers
as "selling stockholders" in this reoffer prospectus.

         The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the common stock by the selling stockholders as of July 31, 2001.
Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting and investment power (or
shares such powers with his or her spouse) with respect to the shares shown as
beneficially owned.
Shares
                                                                        Beneficially
                                        Shares           Maximum         Owned After
                                     Beneficially       Number of        Completion
                                    Owned Prior to     Shares Being        of the
 Name(l)                            the Offering(2)       Offered       Offering(2)(3)
 -------                            ---------------       -------       --------------
Kenneth C. Donahey                      401,857           146,341          255,516

William F. Carpenter III                324,684           146,341          178,343

Neil D. Hemphill                        222,006            68,293          153,713

Daniel S. Slipkovich(4)                 184,478            73,171          111,307

William M. Gracey(5)                    182,086            73,171          108,915

Robert S. Raplee                         57,621            29,268           28,353

Michael A. Wiechart                      59,238            24,390           34,848
--------------

(1)      The address of each selling security holder is c/o LifePoint Hospitals,
         Inc., 103 Powell Court, Suite 200, Brentwood, Tennessee, 37027. Each of
         the selling stockholders is an officer of LifePoint.

(2)      Includes shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60
         days through the exercise of stock options (Mr. Donahey 245,112; Mr.
         Carpenter 177,878; Mr. Hemphill 151,859; Mr. Slipkovich 107,839; Mr.
         Gracey 107,849; Mr. Raplee 27,494; and Mr. Wiechart 34,147). Also
         includes shares indirectly owned through the Company's retirement plan
         (Mr. Donahey 1,308; Mr. Carpenter 465; Mr. Hemphill 743; Mr. Slipkovich
         772; Mr. Gracey 750; Mr. Raplee 800; and Mr. Wiechart 701). Share
         amounts attributable to the retirement plan are estimates based upon a
         June 30, 2001 value of $44.28 per share.

(3)      In each case represents less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.

(4)      Includes 98 shares held by Mr. Slipkovich's wife, as to which he
         disclaims beneficial ownership.

(5)      Includes 55 shares and options to purchase 416 shares held by Mr.
         Gracey's wife, as to which he disclaims beneficial ownership.

                                       17
20

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

         We do not know how the selling stockholders will sell the shares. They
may sell the shares from time to time in any of several ways and in any of
several marketplaces, including:

         -        through private negotiations directly with purchasers;

         -        through agreements with underwriters, dealers or brokers for
                  their own accounts;

         -        through agreements with underwriters or dealers for resale;

         -        in block trades with brokers or dealers who will attempt to
                  sell the shares as agent but may resell a portion of the block
                  as principal to facilitate the transaction; or

         -        in brokers' transactions on Nasdaq, subject to its rules.

         We do not know at what prices the selling stockholders may sell the
shares. They may sell the shares at market prices prevailing at the time of the
sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated
prices. They may pay usual and customary or specifically negotiated fees,
discounts or commissions in connection with these sales. We will not pay any of
those fees, discounts or commissions.

         Because selling stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within
the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933, they will be subject
to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

         We will bear the expense of preparation and filing of the registration
statement of which this reoffer prospectus is a part. The aggregate amount of
all these expenses is expected to be approximately $75,000.

         See "Selling Stockholders" for information concerning the beneficial
ownership of LifePoint common stock by the selling stockholders.

                                     EXPERTS

         The consolidated financial statements of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
appearing in LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.'s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year
ended December 31, 2000, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated
herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       18
21

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

         We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings are also available over the
Internet at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy
any document we file at the SEC's public reference rooms at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more
information on the public reference rooms and their copy charges. Reports and
other information concerning us can also be inspected at the offices of Nasdaq,
33 Whitehall Street, New York, New York 10004-2193.

         We have filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the SEC to
register the resale of the common stock issued pursuant to our Executive Stock
Purchase Plan. You should rely only on the information contained and
incorporated by reference in this reoffer prospectus. We have not authorized any
other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you
with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You
should assume that the information appearing in this reoffer prospectus, as well
as information we previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference,
is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our
business, financial condition, results of operation and prospects may have
changed since that date.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

         The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with the SEC, which means:

         -        incorporated documents are considered part of the reoffer
                  prospectus;

         -        we can disclose important information to you by referring you
                  to those documents; and

         -        information that we file with the SEC will automatically
                  update and supercede this reoffer prospectus.

         We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which we filed
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         -        our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                  December 31, 2000;

         -        our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended
                  March 31, 2001;

         -        our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2001; and

         -        the description of our capital stock contained in our
                  registration statement on Form 10, dated December 11, 1998, as
                  amended.

         You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning our Corporate Secretary at the following address:

         LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.
         103 Powell Court, Suite 200
         Brentwood, Tennessee  37027
         Attention:  Corporate Secretary
         (615) 372-8500

                                       19
22

         We also incorporate by reference each of the following documents that
we will file with the SEC after the date of this reoffer prospectus but before
all the common stock offered by this reoffer prospectus has been sold:

         -        reports filed under Sections 13(a) and (c) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934;

         -        definitive proxy or information statements filed under Section
                  14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in connection with
                  any subsequent stockholders' meeting; and

         -        any reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Securities
                  Exchange Act of 1934.

         Any statements contained in this reoffer prospectus or in a document
incorporated by reference are modified or superseded for purposes of this
reoffer prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in any such document
modifies or supercedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superceded shall be deemed, as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this reoffer prospectus.

                                       20
23

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which we filed
with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

         -        our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                  December 31, 2000;

         -        our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed for the quarter ended
                  March 31, 2001;

         -        our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 16, 2001; and

         -        the description of our capital stock contained in our
                  registration statement on Form 10, dated December 11, 1998, as
                  amended.

         All documents we file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d)
of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this registration statement and
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all
securities offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then
remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
registration statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         Our certificate of incorporation limits the liability of directors to
the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that
directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages
for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability for:

         -        breach of the director's duty of loyalty;

         -        acts or omissions not in good faith, intentional misconduct or
                  a knowing violation of the law;

         -        the unlawful payment of a dividend or unlawful stock purchase
                  or redemption; and

         -        any transaction from which the director derives an improper
                  personal benefit.

         This provision, however, has no effect on the availability of equitable
remedies such as an injunction or rescission. Additionally, this provision will
not limit liability under state or federal securities laws.

         Our certificate of incorporation also provides that we shall indemnify
our officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by such law. In
addition, we maintain and pay premiums on

                                      II-1
24

an insurance policy on behalf of our officers and directors covering losses
arising from claims based on breaches of duty, negligence, error and other
wrongful acts.

ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

         We have relied upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act with respect to
the restricted securities to be reoffered or resold pursuant to this
registration statement. These securities were issued pursuant to our Executive
Stock Purchase Plan to officers of LifePoint.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.
Exhibit
Number                     Description
------                     -----------
4.1      Certificate of Incorporation of LifePoint (a)

4.2      Bylaws of LifePoint (a)

4.3      Form of Specimen Certificate for LifePoint Common Stock (b)

4.4      Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between LifePoint and
         National City Bank as rights agent (a)

5.1      Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC

23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2     Consent Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1     Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

99.1     LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (a)
-----

(a)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999,
         File No. 0-29818.

(b)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         registration statement on Form 10 under the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended, File No. 0-29818.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

             (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                 (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
             the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
             after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
             recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
             the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
             set forth in the registration statement; and

                                      II-2
25

                 (iii) to include any material information with respect to the
             plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
             statement or any material change to such information in the
             registration statement;

provided however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.

             (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

             (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
26

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Brentwood, state of Tennessee, as of the 31st day of
July, 2001.

                                    LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.

                                    By: /s/ Kenneth C. Donahey
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Kenneth C. Donahey
                                        Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, each person whose signature appears
below on this registration statement hereby constitutes and appoints Kenneth C.
Donahey and William F. Carpenter III, or either of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (until
revoked in writing) to sign this Form S-8 and any and all amendments thereto,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing, ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact
and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
Name                                Title                           Date
              ----                                -----                           ----
/s/ Kenneth C. Donahey                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer    July 31, 2001
----------------------------------    (Principal Executive and Financial
Kenneth C. Donahey                    Officer)

/s/ Roberto G. Pantoja                Vice President and Controller           July 31, 2001
----------------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)
Roberto G. Pantoja

/s/ Ricki Tigert Helfer               Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
Ricki Tigert Helfer

/s/ John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S.       Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
John E. Maupin, Jr., D.D.S.

/s/ DeWitt Ezell, Jr.                 Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
DeWitt Ezell, Jr.

/s/ William V. Lapham                 Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
William V. Lapham

/s/ Richard H. Evans                  Director                                July 31, 2001
----------------------------------
Richard H. Evans
II-4
27

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number                     Description
------                     -----------
4.1      Certificate of Incorporation of LifePoint (a)

4.2      Bylaws of LifePoint (a)

4.3      Form of Specimen Certificate for LifePoint Common Stock (b)

4.4      Rights Agreement dated as of May 11, 1999 between LifePoint and
         National City Bank as rights agent (a)

5.1      Opinion of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC

23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.2     Consent of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, PLLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1     Power of Attorney (included on signature page)

99.1     LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Executive Stock Purchase Plan (a)
-----

(a)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999,
         File No. 0-29818.

(b)      Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the registrant's
         registration statement on Form 10 under the Securities Exchange Act of
         1934, as amended, File No. 0-29818.