UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 18, 2005 (July 14, 2005)

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                            LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                                                         
          Delaware                   0-51251              20-1538254
(State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission           (IRS Employer
     of Incorporation)            File Number)        Identification No.)

                                                               
           103 Powell Court, Suite 200                         
                Brentwood, Tennessee                           37027
       (Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip Code)

                                 (615) 372-8500
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                 Not applicable
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[_]  Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
     230.425)

[_]  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[_]  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

                                Page 1 of 4 pages

                         Exhibit Index located on Page 4
                                                                    
                                                                    







Item 8.01. Other Events.

     On July 14, 2005, LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), announced the signing of a definitive agreement to purchase five
rural Virginia and West Virginia hospitals from HCA (NYSE:HCA) for approximately
$285 million, plus working capital. A copy of the press release is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99 and is incorporated by reference herein.

 Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

       (c)  Exhibits

       99   Press Release of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., dated July 14, 2005

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                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
                                                                         
Date:  July 18, 2005

                     LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
                          
                     By: /s/  William F. Carpenter III
                         -------------------------------------------------------
                         William F. Carpenter III
                         Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary


                     Page 3 of 4 pages







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
            
Exhibit                                                          
Number     Description
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99         Press Release of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., dated July 14, 2005

                                Page 4 of 4 pages