EXHIBIT 99.2


                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

In connection with the Annual Report on Form 11-K of the LifePoint Hospitals,
Inc. Retirement Plan (the "Plan") for the year ended December 31, 2002, as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
I, Michael J. Culotta, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Sec. 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Plan.




Date: June 30, 2003


                              /s/Michael J. Culotta
                              --------------------------------------------------
                              Michael J. Culotta
                              Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                              LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.

This certification shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to liability pursuant to that section. Such
certification shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any
filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that
the Plan specifically incorporates it by reference. A signed original of this
written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Plan and will
be retained by the Plan and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission
or its staff upon request.