About The Study: In this cohort study of U.S. nursing homes, the introduction of immunity was associated with decreased overall nursing home staffing and staff per resident time. Registered nurse and licensed practical nurse to patient time was not statistically different. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states adopted immunity from tort liability for harms to nursing home residents.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, David S. Zingmond, MD, PhD, email dzingmond@mednet.ucla.edu .
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(doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2026.1534)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.
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Media advisory: This study is being presented at the 2026 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting.
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About JAMA Health Forum : JAMA Health Forum is an international, peer-reviewed, online, open access journal that addresses health policy and strategies affecting medicine, health and health care. The journal publishes original research, evidence-based reports and opinion about national and global health policy; innovative approaches to health care delivery; and health care economics, access, quality, safety, equity and reform. Its distribution will be solely digital and all content will be freely available for anyone to read.
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