Editors’ Top 5, Week of July 10

California Joins States That Protect Patients Against Nasty Surprise Bills
Starting next month, many Californians will be protected against such surprise medical bills from out-of-network providers, also known as “balance billing.” (Emily Bazar/Kaiser Health News)

C. Diff Infections Are Falling, Thanks to Better Cleaning and Fewer Antibiotics
The risk of getting a deadly, treatment-resistant infection in a hospital or nursing home is dropping for the first time in decades, thanks to new guidelines on antibiotic use and stricter cleaning standards in care facilities. (Angus Chen/NPR Health Shots)

U.S. to Collaborate with Japan on Aging in Place Challenges
The United States is partnering with Japan to tackle aging in place challenges, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced on Friday, June 30. (Amy Baxter/Home Health Care News)

Scientists are Dusting Off a Long-Forgotten Weapon to Cope With Modern Bacteria
In 1915, British scientist Frederick Twort saw something weird happening to the bacteria that had invaded his viral cultures: They were disappearing, a sign they had been destroyed. Two years later, French-Canadian microbiologist Félix d’ Hérelle observed the same phenomenon in his own lab. (Marlene Cimons/The Washington Post)

Costly Design Features Can Pay Off for Skilled Nursing
Advances in skilled nursing facility design have made disease prevention easier for providers to manage, but SNF operators work in the oldest physical plants in the long-term care space. Many of these facilities were built long before anyone knew about bacteria-fighting copper fixtures, negative airflow systems, or screens that subliminally signal staff to wash their hands. And upgrading an existing facility to mitigate shared disease risks could prove costly. (Alex Spanko/Skilled Nursing News)