<PAGE>

                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.12






                           LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
            OUTSIDE DIRECTORS STOCK AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
<PAGE>

                           LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
            OUTSIDE DIRECTORS STOCK AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

                               Table of Contents
                               -----------------

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                        <C>
1.   Introduction.......................................................   1

2.   Definitions........................................................   1
      (a)  Agreement....................................................   1
      (b)  Annual Option................................................   1
      (c)  Annual Retainer..............................................   1
      (d)  Black-Scholes Evaluation Method..............................   1
      (e)  Board........................................................   1
      (f)  Board Term...................................................   2
      (g)  Code.........................................................   2
      (h)  Common Stock.................................................   2
      (i)  Company......................................................   2
      (j)  Deferred Stock Unit..........................................   2
      (k)  Deferred Stock Unit Account..................................   2
      (l)  Deferred Stock Unit Award....................................   2
      (m)  Disability...................................................   2
      (n)  Discretionary Option.........................................   2
      (o)  Election Notice..............................................   2
      (p)  Exchange Act.................................................   2
      (q)  Fair Market Value............................................   2
      (r)  Initial Option...............................................   3
      (s)  Option.......................................................   3
      (t)  Option Price.................................................   3
      (u)  Outside Director.............................................   3
      (v)  Participant..................................................   3
      (w)  Realization Date.............................................   3
      (x)  Shares.......................................................   3
      (y)  Stock Election...............................................   3
      (z)  Subsidiary...................................................   3

3.   Administration of the Plan.........................................   3
     3.1   General Authority............................................   3

4.   Stock Subject to Plan..............................................   4
     4.1   Number of Shares.............................................   4
     4.2   Reuse of Shares..............................................   4

5.   Options............................................................   4
     5.1   Grant of Annual Options......................................   4
</TABLE>

                                       i
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<TABLE>
<S>                                                                       <C>
     5.2   Grant of Initial Options.....................................   4
     5.3   Discretionary Options........................................   4
     5.4   Option Price.................................................   5
     5.5   Term.........................................................   5
     5.6   Option Exercise..............................................   5
     5.7   Limited Transferability of Options...........................   5
     5.8   Death of Optionee............................................   6
     5.9   Disability...................................................   7
     5.10  Other Termination of Service.................................   7

6.   Deferred Stock Unit Awards.........................................   7
     6.1   Stock Elections..............................................   7
     6.2   Deferred Stock Unit Awards...................................   7
     6.3   Award Terms..................................................   7

7.   Change in Control..................................................   8
     7.1   Effect of Change in Control..................................   8
     7.2   Definition...................................................   8

8.   Antidilution Adjustments...........................................  10

9.   Conditions of Issuance of Stock Certificates.......................  11
     9.1   Applicable Conditions........................................  11
     9.2   Legends......................................................  11

10.  No Rights to Continued Service.....................................  11

11.  No Rights to Assets of the Company.................................  12

12.  Amendment and Termination of the Plan..............................  12

13.  Term of the Plan...................................................  12

14.  Governing Law......................................................  12
</TABLE>

                                      ii
<PAGE>

                           LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.
            OUTSIDE DIRECTORS STOCK AND INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

1.   Introduction.
     ------------

          This Plan shall be known as the "LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. Outside
     Directors Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan" and is hereinafter
     referred to as the "Plan." The purposes of the Plan are to encourage
     ownership of stock in the Company by Outside Directors, through the
     granting of non-qualified stock options and deferred stock unit awards, to
     provide an incentive to such directors to continue to serve the Company and
     to aid the Company in attracting qualified director candidates in the
     future. Options granted under the Plan will not be incentive stock options
     within the meaning of section 422 of the Code.

          The provisions of the Plan are intended to satisfy any applicable
     requirements of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and shall be interpreted
     in a manner consistent with any such requirements thereof, as now or
     hereafter construed, interpreted and applied by regulation, rulings and
     cases.

          The terms of the Plan shall be as set forth below, effective as of the
     date the Company's Common Stock is distributed to Columbia/HCA Healthcare
     Corporation stockholders.

2.   Definitions.
     -----------

          As used in the Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
     meanings indicated:

     (a)  "Agreement" shall mean a written agreement entered into between the
          Company and a Participant in connection with an Option granted under
          the Plan.

     (b)  "Annual Option" shall mean an Option granted pursuant to Section 5.1
          hereof.

     (c)  "Annual Retainer" shall mean the annual fee earned by the Participant
          for his service on the Board.

     (d)  "Black-Scholes Evaluation Method" shall mean the generally accepted
          option pricing model based on the Black-Scholes valuation model as
          adapted for use in valuing stock options and using such assumptions as
          are determined and adopted from time to time by the Board.

     (e)  "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
<PAGE>

     (f)  "Board Term" shall mean each Board year beginning on the date of an
          annual meeting of the Company's shareholders and ending on the date
          immediately preceding the next annual meeting of the Company's
          shareholders.

     (g)  "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
          time to time.

     (h)  "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company.

     (i)  "Company" shall mean LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., a Delaware
          corporation, or any successor corporation.

     (j)  "Deferred Stock Unit" shall mean a bookkeeping unit entitling a
          Participant to a Share on the Realization Date applicable under the
          Plan (and shall include fractional units).

     (k)  "Deferred Stock Unit Account" shall mean a bookkeeping account
          maintained by the Company reflecting the number of Deferred Stock
          Units credited to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof as a
          result of the Participant's Stock Election.

     (l)  "Deferred Stock Unit Award" shall mean an award under Section 6.2
          hereof of Deferred Stock Units as a result of a Participant's Stock
          Election for a Board Term.

     (m)  "Disability" shall mean a Participant's total and permanent inability
          to perform his or her duties with the Company or any Subsidiary by
          reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment,
          within the meaning of Code section 22(e)(3).

     (n)  "Discretionary Option" shall mean an Option granted pursuant to
          Section 5.3.

     (o)  "Election Notice" shall mean a written election, in such form as the
          Board shall prescribe, submitted by a Participant to the Company in
          connection with a Stock Election under the Plan.

     (p)  "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
          amended from time to time and as now or hereafter construed,
          interpreted and applied by regulations, rulings and cases.

     (q)  "Fair Market Value" per Share or per Deferred Stock Unit as of a given
          date shall mean the closing sales price of the Common Stock on the
          Nasdaq Stock Market on the trading day immediately preceding the date
          as of which the Fair Market Value is to be determined, or, in the
          absence of any reported sales of Shares on such date, on the first
          preceding date on which any such sale shall have been reported (in
          either case, as reported in the Two Star Edition of The Wall Street
          Journal). If the Shares are not listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market on
          the date as of

                                       2
<PAGE>

          which Fair Market Value is to be determined, the Committee shall in
          good faith determine the Fair Market Value in whatever manner it
          considers appropriate

     (r)  "Initial Option" shall mean an Option granted pursuant to Section 5.2
          hereof.

     (s)  "Option" shall mean an Annual Option, Initial Option or Discretionary
          Option, as the case may be.

     (t)  "Option Price" shall mean the price at which each Share subject to an
          Option may be purchased, determined in accordance with Section 5.4
          hereof.

     (u)  "Outside Director" shall mean any member of the Board who is not also
          an employee of the Company (or any Subsidiary thereof).

     (v)  "Participant" shall mean any Outside Director who has received an
          Option or other award (or credit) hereunder that has not yet
          terminated.

     (w)  "Realization Date" shall mean, as elected by the Participant, with
          respect to any Deferred Stock Unit allocated to a Participant's
          Deferred Stock Unit Account, the first business day following (i) the
          second anniversary of the date such Deferred Stock Unit is credited to
          the Participant's Deferred Stock Unit Account, or (ii) the date the
          Participant ceases to be a member of the Board.

     (x)  "Shares" shall mean shares of Common Stock of the Company.

     (y)  "Stock Election" shall mean an election of the Participant to receive,
          in lieu of all or part (in multiples of 25%) of his Annual Retainer, a
          Deferred Stock Unit Award pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof.

     (z)  "Subsidiary" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.

3.   Administration of the Plan.
     --------------------------

     3.1  General Authority.
          -----------------

          The Plan shall be administered by the Board. The Board shall have
     plenary authority in its discretion, but subject to the express provisions
     of the Plan, to administer the Plan and to exercise all the powers and
     authorities either specifically granted to it under the Plan or necessary
     or advisable in the administration of the Plan, including, without
     limitation, to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules
     and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the details and
     provisions of the Election Notices and Agreements and to make all other
     determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the
     Plan. The Board's determinations on the foregoing matters shall be final
     and conclusive. No member of the Board shall be liable for any action taken
     or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any grant
     hereunder.

                                       3
<PAGE>

4.   Stock Subject to Plan.
     ---------------------

     4.1  Number of Shares.
          ----------------

          The maximum number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to Options
     and other awards under the Plan shall be 175,000 Shares, which number shall
     be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8 hereof. Such Shares may
     be either authorized but unissued Shares, or Shares that shall have been or
     may be reacquired by the Company.

     4.2  Reuse of Shares.
          ---------------

          If an Option or a Deferred Stock Unit Award under the Plan is
     canceled, terminates, expires unexercised or is exchanged for a different
     award without the issuance of Shares, the covered Shares shall, to the
     extent of such termination or non-use, again be available for awards
     thereafter granted during the term of the Plan.

5.   Options.
     -------

     5.1  Grant of Annual Options.
          -----------------------

          Each person who is an Outside Director on the first business day of
     any Board Term shall be granted an Annual Option on such date as shall be
     selected by the Board which shall cover a number of Shares determined by
     the Board. Such Annual Option shall become exercisable in three cumulative
     installments, each of which shall relate to 33 1/3 % of the Shares covered
     by the Annual Option, on the date of grant and the two next succeeding
     anniversary dates thereof, respectively.

     5.2  Grant of Initial Options.
          ------------------------

          In addition to Annual Options granted under Section 5.1, upon
     commencement of service as an Outside Director, each Outside Director shall
     be granted an Initial Option, as of such date as shall be selected by the
     Board which shall cover a number of shares determined by the Board. Such
     Initial Option shall become fully exercisable on the third anniversary of
     the date of grant.

     5.3  Discretionary Options.
          ---------------------

          The Board may, from time to time, in its sole discretion, designate
     Outside Directors who are to be granted Discretionary Options and determine
     the number of shares subject to such Discretionary Options. The Board, in
     its sole discretion, shall prescribe the time or times at which, or the
     conditions upon which, a Discretionary Option or portion thereof shall
     become vested and exercisable, and may accelerate the exercisability of any
     Discretionary Option at any time.

                                       4
<PAGE>

     5.4  Option Price.
          ------------

          The Option Price of each Share subject to an Annual Option or Initial
     Option shall be 100 percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
     of grant. The Option Price of each Share under a Discretionary Option shall
     be determined by the Board; provided, however, that the Option Price of
                                 --------  -------
     each Share under such Discretionary Option shall not be less than 100
     percent of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

     5.5  Term.
          ----

          The term of any Option issued pursuant to the Plan shall be ten years
     from the date of grant and may extend beyond the date of termination of the
     Plan; provided, however, that the Board may, in the case of a Discretionary
           --------  -------
     Option, provide for a shorter exercise period in the Agreement.

     5.6  Option Exercise.
          ---------------

          An Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time, with
     respect to whole Shares only, within the period permitted thereunder for
     the exercise thereof, and shall be exercised by written notice of intent to
     exercise the Option with respect to a specified number of Shares, delivered
     to the Company at its principal office, and payment in full to the Company
     at said office of the amount of the Option Price for the number of Shares
     with respect to which the Option is then being exercised. Payment of the
     Option Price shall be made (i) in cash or cash equivalents, (ii) in whole
     Shares valued at the closing sales price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq
     Stock Market on the date of exercise (or next succeeding trading date, if
     the date of exercise is not a trading date, in which case the exercise date
     shall instead be considered to be such next trading date) or (iii) by a
     combination of such cash (or cash equivalents) and such Stock; provided,
                                                                    --------
     however, that the optionee shall not be entitled to tender Shares pursuant
     -------
     to successive, substantially simultaneous exercises of an Option or any
     other stock option of the Company. Subject to applicable securities laws,
     an Option may also be exercised by delivering a notice of exercise of the
     Option and simultaneously selling the Shares thereby acquired pursuant to a
     brokerage or similar agreement approved in advance by proper officers of
     the Company, using the proceeds of such sale as payment of the exercise
     price. Subject to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, the Company shall
     issue a stock certificate for the Shares purchased by exercise of an
     Option, in the name of the optionee (or other person exercising the Option
     in accordance with the provisions of the Plan), as soon as practicable
     after due exercise and payment of the aggregate Option Price for such
     Shares.

     5.7  Limited Transferability of Options.
          ----------------------------------

          All Options shall be nontransferable except (i) upon the optionee's
     death, by the optionee's will or the laws of descent and distribution or
     (ii) on a case-by-case basis, as may be approved by the Board in its
     discretion, in accordance with the terms provided below. Each Agreement
     shall provide that the optionee may, during his or her lifetime and subject
     to the prior approval of the Board at the time of proposed transfer,
     transfer all

                                       5
<PAGE>

     or part of the Option to a Family Member (as defined below), provided that
     such transfer is made for estate planning, tax planning, donative purposes
     or pursuant to a domestic relations order, and no consideration (other than
     nominal consideration) is received by the Optionee. The transfer of an
     Option shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Board may
     in its discretion impose from time to time, including (without limitation)
     a condition that the portion of the Option to be transferred be vested and
     exercisable by the optionee at the time of the transfer and a requirement
     that the terms of such transfer be documented in a written agreement (in
     such form as the Board may prescribe). Subsequent transfers of an Option
     transferred under this Section 5.7 shall be prohibited, other than by will
     or the laws of descent and distribution upon the death of the transferee.

          For purposes hereof, a "family member" shall mean any child,
     stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former
     spouse, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law,
     daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive
     relationships, any person sharing the employee's household (other than a
     tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty
     percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or
     the employee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in
     which these persons (or the employee) own more than fifty percent of the
     voting interests.

          No transfer of an Option by the optionee by will or by laws of descent
     and distribution shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Company
     shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and an authenticated
     copy of the will and/or such other evidence as the Board may deem necessary
     to establish the validity of the transfer. During the lifetime of an
     optionee, except as provided above, the Option shall be exercisable only by
     the optionee, except that, in the case of an optionee who is legally
     incapacitated, the Option shall be exercisable by the optionee's guardian
     or legal representative. In the event of any transfer of an Option to a
     Family Member in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.7, such
     Family Member shall thereafter have all rights that would otherwise be held
     by such optionee (or by such optionee's guardian, legal representative or
     beneficiary), except as otherwise provided herein. Any attempted
     assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the
     Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy of any execution,
     attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null and void and
     without effect.

     5.8  Death of Optionee.
          -----------------

          If an optionee dies while he is an Outside Director, the executor or
     administrator of the estate of the decedent (or the person or persons to
     whom an Option shall have been validly transferred in accordance with
     Section 5.7) shall have the right, during the period ending six months
     after the date of the optionee's death (subject to the provisions of
     Section 5.5 hereof concerning the maximum term of an Option), to exercise
     the Option to the extent that it was exercisable at the date of such
     optionee's death and shall not have been previously exercised.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     5.9  Disability.
          ----------

          If an optionee's service as an Outside Director shall be terminated as
     a result of Disability, the optionee (or in the case of an optionee who is
     legally incapacitated, his guardian or legal representative) shall have the
     right, during a period ending six months after the date of his disability
     (subject to the provisions of Section 5.5 hereof concerning the maximum
     term of an Option), to exercise the Option to the extent that it was
     exercisable at the date of such optionee's Disability and shall not have
     been previously exercised.

     5.10 Other Termination of Service.
          ----------------------------

          If an optionee's service as an Outside Director shall be terminated
     for any reason other than death or Disability, the optionee shall have the
     right, during the period ending ninety days after such termination (subject
     to the provisions of Section 5.5 hereof concerning the maximum term of an
     Option), to exercise the Option to the extent that it was exercisable on
     the date of such termination of service and shall not have been previously
     exercised.

6.   Deferred Stock Unit Awards.
     --------------------------

     6.1  Stock Elections.
          ---------------

          For each Board Term during which the Plan is in effect, a Participant
     may elect to receive, in lieu of all or any portion (in multiples of 25%)
     of his Annual Retainer payable for such Board Term, a Deferred Stock Unit
     Award pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof. Such an election shall be made for a
     Board Term by filing an Election Notice with the Company, in accordance
     with procedures adopted by the Board, prior to the commencement of the
     Board Term for which such Annual Retainer is to be paid; provided, however,
                                                              --------  -------
     that in the case of the Board Term beginning in 1999, such Election Notice
     must be filed on or before May 31, 1999.

     6.2  Deferred Stock Unit Awards.
          --------------------------

          A Participant shall receive a Deferred Stock Unit Award for each Board
     Term in respect of which he makes a Stock Election. Such Deferred Stock
     Unit Award shall be granted as of the first business day of the Board Term
     (except that in the case of the Board Term beginning in 1999, such grant
     date shall be the twenty-first (21) trading date of the Company's Common
     Stock) and shall be for a number of Deferred Stock Units determined by
     dividing (A) the additional Annual Retainer amount that would have been
     payable to the Participant in cash in the absence of his Stock Election, by
     (B) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.

     6.3  Award Terms.
          -----------

          Each Deferred Stock Unit Award granted under the Plan shall have the
     following terms:

                                       7
<PAGE>

          (a)  Vesting. All Deferred Stock Units credited to a Participant's
               Deferred Stock Unit Account shall immediately be 100% vested.

          (b)  Dividend Equivalents. A Participant shall be credited with
               dividend equivalents on all Deferred Stock Units credited to his
               Deferred Stock Unit Account at the time of any payment of
               dividends on Shares to stockholders. The amount of any such
               dividend equivalents shall equal the amount that would have been
               payable to the Participant as a stockholder in respect of a
               number of Shares equal to the number of Deferred Stock Units then
               credited to him. Any such dividend equivalent shall be credited
               to the Participant's Deferred Stock Unit Account as of the date
               on which such dividend would have been payable and shall be
               converted into additional Deferred Stock Units (which shall be
               immediately vested) based upon the Fair Market Value of a Share
               on the date of such crediting.

          (c)  Payment of Awards.  A Participant shall be entitled to payment,
               in respect of Deferred Stock Units credited to him, on the
               Realization Date for such Deferred Stock Units indicated by
               Participant in the applicable Election Notice. Subject to the
               provisions of Section 9, such payment in respect of any Deferred
               Stock Units shall be made through the issuance to the Participant
               of a stock certificate for a number of Shares equal to the number
               of such Deferred Stock Units.

7.   Change in Control.
     -----------------

     7.1  Effect of Change in Control.
          ---------------------------

          Upon a "change in control" of the Company (as defined below), each
     outstanding Option, to the extent that it shall not otherwise have become
     exercisable, shall become fully and immediately exercisable (without regard
     to the otherwise applicable provisions of Sections 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 hereof
     concerning exercisability).

     7.2  Definition.
          ----------

          For purposes of Section 7.1 hereof, "change in control" of the Company
     shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the
     following after the date on which the Corporation becomes a publicly-held
     Corporation:

          (a)  An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any
               voting securities of the Company (the "Voting Securities") by any
               "Person" (as the term Person is used for purposes of Section
               13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
               (the "1934 Act")) immediately after which such Person has
               "Beneficial Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
               promulgated under the 1934 Act) of twenty percent (20%) or more
               of the combined voting power of the then outstanding Voting
               Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether a
                           --------  -------
               change in control has occurred, Voting Securities which are
               acquired in a "Non-Control

                                       8
<PAGE>

               Acquisition" (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an
               acquisition which would cause a change in control. A "Non-Control
               Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition by (i) an employee benefit
               plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the
               Company or (B) any corporation or other Person of which a
               majority of its voting power or its equity securities or equity
               interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company (a
               "Subsidiary") or (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary.

          (b)  The individuals who, as of the date the Company issues any class
               of equity securities required to be registered under Section 12
               of the 1934 Act, are members of the Board (the "Incumbent
               Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds
               of the Board; provided, however, that if the election, or
                             --------  -------
               nomination for election, by the Company's stockholders of any new
               director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the
               Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for purposes of this
               Agreement, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;
               provided, further, however, that no individual shall be
               --------  -------  -------
               considered a member of the Incumbent Board if (1) such individual
               initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or
               threatened "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a-11
               promulgated under the 1934 Act) or other actual or threatened
               solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person
               other than the Board (a "Proxy Contest") including by reason of
               any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or
               Proxy Contest or (2) such individual was designated by a Person
               who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a
               transaction described in clause (a) or (c) of this Section 7.2;
               or
          (c)  Consummation, after approval by stockholders of the Company, of:

               (1)  A merger, consolidation or reorganization involving the
                    Company, unless,

                    (A)       The stockholders of the Company, immediately
                         before such merger, consolidation or reorganization,
                         own, directly or indirectly immediately following such
                         merger, consolidation or reorganization, at least
                         seventy-five percent (75%) of the combined voting power
                         of the outstanding Voting Securities of the corporation
                         resulting from such merger or consolidation or
                         reorganization or its parent corporation (the
                         "Surviving Corporation") in substantially the same
                         proportion as their ownership of the Voting Securities
                         immediately before such merger, consolidation or
                         reorganization;

                    (B)       The individuals who were members of the Incumbent
                         Board immediately prior to the execution of the
                         agreement providing for such merger, consolidation or
                         reorganization

                                       9
<PAGE>

                         constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the
                         board of directors of the Surviving Corporation; and

                    (C)       No Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary,
                         any employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part
                         thereof) maintained by the Company, the Surviving
                         Corporation or any Subsidiary, or any Person who,
                         immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or
                         reorganization, had Beneficial Ownership of twenty
                         percent (20%) or more of the then outstanding Voting
                         Securities) has Beneficial Ownership of twenty percent
                         (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the
                         Surviving Corporation's then outstanding Voting
                         Securities.

               (2)  A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

               (3)  An agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or
                    substantially all of the assets of the Company to any Person
                    (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary).

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, a change in control shall not be deemed
          to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person") acquired
          Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the
          outstanding Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of Voting
          Securities by the Company which, by reducing the number of Voting
          Securities outstanding, increased the proportional number of shares
          Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, provided that if a change in
          control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a
          result of the acquisition of Voting Securities by the Company, and
          after such share acquisition by the Company, the Subject Person
          becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional Voting Securities which
          increases the percentage of the then outstanding Voting Securities
          Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a change in control
          shall occur.

8.   Antidilution Adjustments.
     -------------------------

          In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock
     dividend, combination of shares, merger or consolidation, or the sale,
     conveyance, lease or other transfer by the Company of all or substantially
     all of its property, or any other change in the corporate structure or
     shares of the Company, pursuant to any of which events the then outstanding
     Shares are split up or combined, or are changed into, become exchangeable
     at the holder's election for, or entitle the holder thereof to, other
     shares of stock, or in the case of any other transaction described in
     section 424(a) of the Code, the Board may make such adjustment or
     substitution (including by substitution of shares of another corporation)
     as it may determine to be appropriate, in its sole discretion, in (i) the
     aggregate number and kind of shares that may be distributed in respect of
     Option exercises and/or awards under the Plan, (ii) the number and kind of
     shares subject to

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<PAGE>

     outstanding Options and/or the Option Price of such shares and (iii) the
     number and kind of shares represented by Deferred Stock Units outstanding
     under the Plan.

9.   Conditions of Issuance of Stock Certificates.
     --------------------------------------------

     9.1  Applicable Conditions.
          ---------------------

          The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate
     for Shares under the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following
     conditions:

          (a)  the completion of any registration or other qualification of such
               Shares, under any federal or state law, or under the rulings or
               regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
               other governmental regulatory body, that the Board shall, in its
               sole discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

          (b)  the obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any federal
               or state governmental agency that the Board shall, in its sole
               discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

          (c)  the lapse of such reasonable period of time following the event
               triggering the obligation to distribute shares as the Board from
               time to time may establish for reasons of administrative
               convenience; and

          (d)  if required by the Board, in its sole discretion, the receipt by
               the Company from a Participant of (i) a representation in writing
               that the Shares received pursuant to the Plan are being acquired
               for investment and not with a view to distribution and (ii) such
               other representations and warranties as are deemed necessary by
               counsel to the Company.

     9.2  Legends.
          -------

          The Company reserves the right to legend any certificate for Shares,
     conditioning sales of such shares upon compliance with applicable federal
     and state securities laws and regulations.

10.  No Rights to Continued Service.
     ------------------------------

          Nothing in the Plan, in any grant made, or in any Election Notice or
     Agreement entered into pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Participant
     the right to continue service as a member of the Board or to be entitled to
     any remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan, Election Notice or
     Agreement.

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<PAGE>

11.  No Rights to Assets of the Company.
     ----------------------------------

          Nothing in the Plan, in any grant made, or in any Election Notice or
     Agreement entered into pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Participant
     any right to any particular assets of the Company. A Participant's rights
     under the Plan are limited to those rights of an unsecured creditor except
     to the extent Shares are actually issued to such Participant.

12.  Amendment and Termination of the Plan.
     -------------------------------------

          The Board, at any time and from time to time, may suspend, terminate,
     modify or amend the Plan; provided, however, that an amendment which
                               --------  -------
     requires stockholder approval for the Plan to continue to comply with any
     law, regulation or stock exchange requirement shall not be effective unless
     approved by the requisite vote of stockholders. No suspension, termination,
     modification or amendment of the Plan shall adversely affect any grants
     previously made, unless the written consent of the Participant is obtained.

13.  Term of the Plan.
     ----------------

          The Plan shall have a term of ten years. No grants or awards may be
     made after such termination, but termination of the Plan shall not, without
     the consent of any Participant who then holds Options or Deferred Stock
     Units, alter or impair any rights or obligations in respect of such Options
     or Deferred Stock Units.

14.  Governing Law.
     -------------

          The Plan and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be
     construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of
     Delaware without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof,
     except to the extent that such laws are preempted by Federal law.


                                      ***



                                    ___________________________________
                                    LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC.

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