A $145-million purchase offer by the Lifepoint hospital chain and a bankruptcy filing by Sumner Regional Health Systems may result in Brentwood, TN-based Lifepoint taking control of Sumner's flagship Gallatin hospital and two smaller operations by summer. Sumner Regional's board voted to accept Lifepoint's purchase offer over nine others. A bankruptcy judge still must review Lifepoint's bid, and rival companies could resurface as part of the court proceedings to challenge or try to beat Lifepoint's price.
