LifePoint Hospitals net profit down 19 percent

NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Rural hospital chain LifePoint Hospitals Inc (LPNT.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Thursday posted a lower net profit due to unpaid medical bills, high labor costs and medical malpractice insurance expenses.

The Brentwood, Tennessee-based company said third-quarter net profit fell 19.1 percent to $28.2 million, or 49 cents per share, from $34.9 million, or 62 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein and Ilaina Jonas)