Sales are underway for 619 Brickell, a 75-story residential tower from 13th Floor Investments and Key International that brings a new residential presence to the Brickell waterfront. The project is Nobu’s first residential venture in Miami and is designed around its waterfront location, with residences and amenities oriented toward Biscayne Bay. The tower will contain 296 residences ranging from one to five bedrooms, including Sky Villas and Penthouses. Homes range from 1,160 to 5,526 square feet, with prices starting at $3 million and extending beyond $60 million. From its position along Biscayne Bay, the project is designed to make the waterfront a defining part of the residential experience. That begins with the architecture. Foster + Partners, working with Sieger Suarez, designed the tower around five twisting cassettes that are oriented to maximize water views. The form also brings natural light deeper into the residences and opens views toward the ocean, Biscayne Bay and Brickell Key. The location offers a different kind of connection to Miami. Residents will be within walking distance of Brickell’s restaurants, shops, arts and cultural destinations, while the building itself looks directly toward the bay. Inside, the residences feature 10-foot-high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame expansive views of Biscayne Bay. Natural materials and warm finishes give the interiors a contemporary feel, while kitchens are equipped with Gaggenau appliances, fine Italian cabinetry and fully automated Lutron lighting systems. The terraces extend that living space outdoors. Large wraparound terraces are designed for relaxing and entertaining, while select residences will include private outdoor summer kitchens and dip pools. The result is a residential layout that takes advantage of Miami’s climate without separating the interior from the surrounding landscape. The same approach continues through the building’s amenities. More than 90,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor spaces are planned, including five pools: an 86-foot sunset pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a rejuvenation salt pool and a lap pool with an outdoor spa garden. Padel courts, game rooms, sports simulators and gardens add to the mix. Wellness goes further than a conventional residential fitness center. Wellness and Longevity by Nobu will focus on biohacking and performance, with planned facilities and treatments including cryotherapy chambers, an e-salt cabin, a neural rest therapy pod, hyperbaric oxygen therapy suites, IV and peptide therapy, ozone therapy and physical therapy. The development team has committed $25 million to the wellness offering, while a state-of-the-art fitness studio will overlook Biscayne Bay. Outdoor spaces extend the wellness experience beyond the fitness facilities and pools. Gardens and other open-air amenities are integrated throughout the property, giving residents spaces for movement, recovery and time outside. Nobu’s role extends beyond the residential brand. Nobu Hospitality will oversee the property’s dining experiences, including a full-scale Nobu restaurant at the base of the building that will be open to the public while offering exclusive resident access. A resident-only poolside Nobu cafe is planned for the 11th floor, along with in-residence dining and private chef services. The project also brings private outdoor amenities into select residences, including summer kitchens and dip pools. Combined with the building’s larger collection of pools, gardens, fitness facilities and social spaces, these features give residents a range of ways to spend time at home while remaining connected to the waterfront. Sales launched in June, with approximately $1 billion in homes already reserved. Construction is expected to begin within the next 12 months. By ML Staff. Photos/ARX Creative and BINYAN Studios

In Miami, you can meet Florida's helmet exemption and still walk away from a crash on a crowded causeway with five-figure medical bills and a fight over who was at fault. Florida lets riders 21 and older go helmet-free, but only if an insurance policy stands behind them with $10,000 or more in medical benefits for motorcycle-crash injuries. That condition leaves motorcycles outside Florida's standard PIP system, and it does nothing to cap the cost of serious treatment. How the Florida Helmet Insurance Rule Applies to Miami Adults Age and medical-benefits coverage Florida's adult helmet rule opens a narrow door; it never removes the underlying requirement. Florida Statutes sections 316.209 and 316.211 control motorcycle operation and protective equipment. Riders under 21 need compliant, securely fastened headgear. Full stop. The study describes the law that exempted adults who had insurance for motorcycle-accident injuries with at least $10,000 in medical benefits. The policy must provide medical benefits payable for your injuries. The law exempted adults who had insurance for motorcycle-accident injuries with at least $10,000 in medical benefits. Eye protection is its own requirement for operators; under section 316.211, this requirement does not apply to persons riding within an enclosed cab and certain low-powered motorcycles, but there is no exception based solely on the motorcycle having a windscreen. What counts as useful proof of coverage Florida's helmet-exemption guidance confirms the coverage condition. Keep documents that identify you and spell out the benefits. A card helps. But a card that never names the medical-benefits provision leaves a roadside or post-crash question wide open. Get written confirmation from your insurer before you ride bare-headed. Policies differ. Your declarations page and endorsements should list the coverage limit and the effective dates. Ask for specifics: motorcycle-injury exclusions, plus coverage for you as operator or as passenger. Coverage questions and claim records collide here, because PIP excludes motorcycles and insurers read policy language closely after a crash. The Florida's $10,000 helmet insurance rule explainer walks through how that medical-benefits provision gets tested in post-2026 claims, statute citations included. Read it next to your own policy documents, never in place of them. Why Lawful Helmet-Free Riding Can Still Leave Large Medical Bills Motorcycle injuries generally fall outside standard PIP coverage Florida's no-fault framework treats motorcycles as something other than a motor vehicle for personal injury protection. So no, your household car's PIP won't pay for injuries from a ride. Sections 627.732 and 627.736 govern. Payment may come from qualifying motorcycle medical-benefits coverage or health insurance, and each brings deductibles, exclusions, and reimbursement rights against a later recovery. Optional medical-payments coverage counts if your policy carries it. A claim against the at-fault driver and applicable liability insurance runs on its own separate track. Write down the limits, the deductible, and the rules for submitting medical bills. The $10,000 threshold is not a medical-cost ceiling The exemption sets a floor. It builds from coverage, in other words. It caps nothing. An ambulance ride and surgery can eat the whole benefit before rehabilitation even begins. Compliant helmets, for their part, cut fatal-injury risk for riders and passengers, per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Helmet use and legal fault are different questions Riding lawfully helmet-free doesn't make you the cause of a collision. A driver who turns left across your path can still carry the liability. Florida Statute §316.2065(18) - not §316.211 - states that failure to wear a bicycle helmet may not be considered evidence of negligence or contributory negligence. Pass the 50% mark and section 768.81 generally bars recovery. Under Florida's comparative-fault rule, negligence damages shrink by your assigned share of fault. Pass the 50% mark and section 768.81 generally bars recovery. Three Miami Rider Scenarios Show Where the Risks Change Three hypothetical crashes, all governed by Florida law, show how the helmet exemption leaves insurance and fault questions unresolved. Miami rider scenario Helmet-law position Immediate coverage issue Main post-crash risk A 28-year-old rider has confirmed qualifying medical-benefits coverage May ride without a helmet under the statutory exemption The rider still needs to determine what the policy pays and which exclusions apply Medical bills can exceed available first-party benefits A 34-year-old rider cannot produce or confirm qualifying coverage The rider may be unable to establish compliance with the exemption The existence and effective date of coverage become factual issues A citation and coverage dispute may arise separately from unpaid treatment expenses A covered adult rider is accused of moving between lanes on Biscayne Boulevard Helmet compliance does not legalize lane splitting Medical coverage and crash fault remain separate questions Evidence of lane position may affect comparative-fault arguments What changes, and what does not Across all three scenarios, satisfying the helmet statute settles one question. Policy coverage, crash fault, and lane position run by different rules and different evidence, and a citation on one never closes out the others. Miami Lane Position: Side-by-Side Riding and Lane Splitting Motorcycles are entitled to full lane use Under section 316.209, a motorcycle owns its full lane, and no other vehicle may deprive it of that space. On a packed Miami causeway, a driver can't treat the unused half of your lane as an invitation to squeeze in. A narrow profile carries the same entitlement. Leave room to react when a car merges or signals into your lane. Can two motorcycles ride side by side in Florida? Yes, up to two. Section 316.209 permits two motorcycles abreast in a lane, no more. Two riders sharing a lane lawfully is one thing; a rider threading the gap between rows of stopped traffic is another. Is lane splitting legal in Florida? No. Section 316.209 bars operating between lanes or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles, and slow traffic creates no exception. Passing within the same lane is restricted by the same section. Congestion near downtown Miami changes nothing about where the lane lines sit. A lane-splitting allegation can feed a negligence argument without settling every cause of the crash. Video shows where you were before impact; final resting positions show where the vehicles ended up. When traffic crawls near a causeway exit, hold your lane even if the gap between cars looks wide enough to slip through. What does the two-fingers-down gesture mean? It's a rider greeting, read as "keep two wheels down." Legally, it means nothing. Both hands belong on the bars when traffic demands them. Records That Matter After a Helmet-Free Motorcycle Crash Preserve coverage and scene evidence Get medical attention before you worry about photographs. Then keep records that separate the coverage fight from the fault fight: Your full motorcycle policy and declarations page, plus the insurance card and written coverage confirmation Scene photographs or video capturing lane markings, debris, vehicle damage, protective gear, and sight lines Witness names and contact information Medical records linking each diagnosed injury to the collision Receipts, wage records, and correspondence with every insurer The policy establishes the coverage in effect on the crash date. Independent observations test competing accounts, and clinical findings tie treatment to a specific injury. Payment and earnings records prove losses without estimating. Save copies somewhere you can reach without the wrecked bike or a broken phone, because debris gets cleared and vehicles get moved fast. Original files with timestamps beat retellings. Do not treat a ticket as the final liability decision A citation isn't a civil judgment. Traffic court and negligence claims run on separate processes, and section 316.650 keeps the citation itself out of evidence at trial. The underlying conduct stays contestable. Insurers and courts will look at causation and injury severity, rather than treating a ticket as the final word on a disputed lane change. Common Questions About Helmet-Free Riding in Florida Is Florida considered a no-helmet state? No. Section 316.211 keeps a helmet requirement with an adult exemption attached. Under-21 riders need compliant headgear, and adults still need the qualifying medical-benefits coverage described above. What can a no-helmet citation cost in Florida? A helmet violation is a nonmoving, noncriminal traffic infraction under section 316.211. Section 318.18 sets a $30 base civil penalty for nonmoving violations. Court costs and local charges push the total higher, so that figure won't necessarily match a Miami-Dade ticket. Check your citation and court notice. Section 318.18 sets a $30 base civil penalty for nonmoving violations. Can insurance alone make helmet-free riding legal? No. You need to be 21 or older, and the policy has to carry the medical-benefits floor for motorcycle-crash injuries. Don't assume general liability or ordinary auto insurance qualifies. Get the motorcycle-injury provision in writing. How can the helmet rule affect medical bills after a crash? Benefits may cover eligible expenses up to the policy's terms, and no further. As covered above, PIP excludes motorcycles, so treatment that continues after benefits run out falls to other insurance or a liability claim. What are the main legal risks for a helmet-free Miami rider? Establishing qualifying coverage under section 316.211, and bills that outrun the benefits. Lane-position allegations under section 316.209 feed into fault allocation under section 768.81. Each takes different evidence: policy records, witness accounts, or crash video. Legal Permission Is Not the Same as Financial Protection For a Miami adult, helmet-free riding is a conditional legal choice, not a guarantee of what insurance will pay after a collision. A compliant helmet stays practical protection even when the law lets you leave it off. Your exposure rides on the policy and on the evidence tying another road user's conduct to your injuries. This is general Florida legal information, not advice about a particular crash. Read the policy language, keep proof on you, and treat the exemption as what it is: a narrow permission with no financial guarantee attached. By ML Staff. Image generated with Gemini.

Miami takes Halloween seriously. In 2023, WalletHub ranked Miami No. 4 among the 100 largest U.S. cities for celebrating Halloween, citing factors including walkability and the availability of costume and candy stores. Hialeah also made the list, ranking No. 9. To help you find the right Halloween event for you, your family or your friends, Miami Living has compiled a guide to Halloween 2026, featuring family-friendly festivals, trick-or-treating, costume contests, dog-friendly celebrations and late-night parties. Explore the events below, with dates and details to help you plan your October. Don't miss our other guide on Miami's greatest Haunted Houses of 2026: Miami Halloween Haunted Houses 2026: Tickets, Prices and What’s Included Halloween gif/courtesy of Skeleton Family Fun by Day Daytime activities packed with fun, treats, and costumes for the whole family to enjoy Halloween at an easy pace. Galleria Fort Lauderdale: Halloween Boo Bash Photo: Courtesy of Galleria Fort Lauderdale On Oct. 29, the mall turns its attention to young ghouls and goblins with a free afternoon of trick-or-treating, a costume contest, games and sweet treats. Characters in costume are on hand for photos, which makes this an easy stop for families who want Halloween without a long drive or a ticket. Address: 2414 E Sunrise Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 Phone: (954) 564-1015 Website: Official website Gulfstream Park Village: Creepy Carnival Clowns Halloween Celebration Photo: Gulfstream Park On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 7 to 10 p.m., Gulfstream Park Village hosts a free celebration with a live DJ, candy stations, food trucks, outdoor bars, a beer garden, performers and interactive characters. Families should arrive early: candy stations run from 7 to 8 p.m. as a safe alternative to neighborhood trick-or-treating, and costumes are encouraged. Address: 901 S Federal Hwy, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 Website: Official website Kiki on the River: Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party Photo: Kiki on the River To mark National Pumpkin Day on Monday, Oct. 26, Kiki on the River invites parents and kids to carve, create and celebrate together along the Miami River. Pumpkins and all carving supplies are provided, and the afternoon adds Halloween décor, themed activities and photo opportunities. Admission includes a set menu, so the whole family can enjoy the full Kiki experience. Address: 450 NW North River Dr, Miami, FL 33128 The Little Lighthouse Foundation: Children's Halloween Party Photo: The Little Lighthouse Foundation The Little Lighthouse Foundation brings back its Children's Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Jungle Plaza in the Miami Design District. Expect costumes, treats, games and magical moments with the children and families the foundation serves. Volunteer sign-ups are open, and guests can also sponsor a child through the foundation's website. Address: Jungle Plaza, 3801 NE 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33137 Website: Official website Miami Children's Museum: Not So Scary in Miami Photo: Miami Children's Museum The museum's 16th annual Not So Scary Halloween Bash took place Oct. 4, and the fun continues all month. Weekend trick-or-treating returns Oct. 10, 17 and 24, while the not-so-spooky Haunted House stays open daily. Other highlights include the "Glowing Pair of Underpants" Theater Troupe on weekends, Mini Monster Monday on Oct. 26 for toddlers, mini pumpkin decorating and a mad scientist lab. Costumes are welcome all month. Address: 980 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132 Website: Official website Plantation Walk: Trunk or Treat & Car Show Photo: Plantation Walk On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 4 to 8 p.m., Plantation Walk hosts a free outdoor Trunk or Treat and Car Show. The show starts at 4 p.m., with trick-or-treating at 5 p.m. as participating vehicles hand out candy while supplies last. Halloween-themed cars compete for the Top 5 Merchant's Choice Trophies, with live music, street performers and more than 30 restaurants, shops and experiences. Pets are welcome. Address: 321 N University Dr, Plantation, FL 33324 Halloween Day and Night Versatile celebrations that seamlessly transition from family-friendly daytime adventures to spine-tingling thrills after dark. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden: The Seven Ravens and Garden of Shadows Photo: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Fairchild celebrates Halloween around the clock. By day, through Oct. 31 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.), families follow The Seven Ravens, a storybook adventure with hidden letters, a final mystery and a prize at the Garden Shop. After dark on Oct. 23 and 24 (7 to 10:30 p.m.), Garden of Shadows brings six haunted encounters, cocktail and mocktail flights and a 9 p.m. costume contest. The daytime adventure is included with Garden admission, and Garden of Shadows is $35.95 per adult. Address: 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156 Website: Official website Kings Doral Photo: Kings Doral Kings Doral splits its Halloween in two. Families take over for a building-wide trick-or-treat experience between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then at 8 p.m., the mood turns adults-only, with hidden "Trick" and "Treat" cards around the venue. Tricks might mean bowling a frame with your non-dominant hand, and treats include free appetizers. The $13 Boo's Bag, an IV-style drink bag filled with Bacardi, orange juice, pineapple and cranberry, is available Oct. 12 to 31. Address: 3450 NW 83rd Ave, Suite 152, Doral, FL 33122 Pups in Costume: Adorable fashion shows and yappy hours designed to let your four-legged friends join in on the Halloween fun. Deli Lane: Howl-O-Ween Yappy Hour Photo: Deli Lane On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 6 p.m., Deli Lane invites locals to bring their pups to the patio for an afternoon of Halloween fun. A dog costume contest begins at 4:30 p.m., and the first- and second-place dogs win Deli Lane gift cards of $50 and $30. Admission is free. Address: 7230 SW 59th Ave, South Miami, FL Kiki on the River: Paws & Pose Halloween Photo: Flow Gallery Agency On Saturday, Oct. 24, from 12:30 to 5 p.m., Kiki on the River hosts a dog fashion show and costume competition judged by a celebrity panel. The $99 Paw-Ty Pass includes a welcome cocktail, a Pup Cup, a signature brunch dish and competition entry, with 25% of proceeds donated to charity. Prizes include a Kiki Yacht Experience, a Habibi Chef's Tasting Experience and A Day at Faena (each of the last two valued at $1,000). The Healthy Bud Treat Bar, a Mr. Beni Dog Art Gallery Pop-Up and a Halloween photo booth round things out. Address: 450 NW North River Dr, Miami, FL 33128 Tickets: Official ticket page Parties After Dark: Vibrant nightlife, themed dinners, and costume contests tailored for adults looking to celebrate in style. Cantina La Veinte Photo: Cantina La Veinte On Saturday, Oct. 31, Cantina La Veinte dresses up with Halloween décor and an ofrenda, serving its regular à la carte menu alongside a DJ and mariachi entertainment. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes, with $500 going to the winner of the contest. Earlier in the week, the restaurant teams up with Bucket Listers for a Halloween dinner series on Oct. 27 to 29 featuring a dedicated menu. Address: 495 Brickell Ave, Miami, FL 33131 Phone: (786) 623-6135 Website: Official website Instagram: @CantinaLaVeinteMiami Delano Miami Beach: Queen of the Jungle Photo: Delano Miami Beach On Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 p.m. to midnight, Delano takes over its ground floor for one night only with Queen of the Jungle, an immersive after-dark celebration hosted by Ladyfag and Rigo Lora. The setting leans into a tropical, overgrown theme that suits the hotel's design. Address: 1685 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139 HalloWYN Photo: SWARM Wynwood's Halloween tradition hits its 13th year on Halloween night at Wynwood Marketplace. The neighborhood known for street art and nightlife becomes a costume parade of its own, making it an easy choice for anyone who wants to see Miami at its most creative on Oct. 31. Address: 2250 NW 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33127 Sexy Fish Miami: Vampire Tide Photo: Sexy Fish Miami On Saturday, Oct. 31, Sexy Fish becomes a world of gothic glamour with immersive installations, striking costumes and theatrical entertainment, presented with Don Julio 1942. Dinner from the à la carte menu is followed by headlining DJ Pablo Fierro, performances, cocktails and a late-night food menu. Seating begins at 9:30 p.m. with a $300 per person deposit applied toward food and beverage. Guests must be 21 or older. Address: 1001 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33130 Phone: (305) 889-7888 Website: Official website Instagram: @sexyfishmiami Sunset Tavern: Halloween Bash Photo: Sunset Tavern On Saturday, Oct. 31, Sunset Tavern celebrates its final Halloween at its current location with live music by Drako at 7:30 p.m. and a crowd-voted costume contest at 9 p.m. Winners receive $50 and $30 gift cards. Themed drink specials include Witches Blood Sangria, Midnight Moscow Mules, Boo Breezes and Jello Syringe Shots. Admission is free. Address: 7230 SW 59th Ave, South Miami, FL Wine Bar Halloween Week: A wine-fueled lineup of spooky pairings and themed events for a cozy, spirited celebration. Magie Wine Bar Photo: Magie Wine Bar Magie spends Halloween week with a wine-fueled lineup across its Little River and Coconut Grove locations. On Oct. 28, Adult Trick or Treat pairs four glasses of wine with candy for $30. Oct. 29 brings Halloween Singles Night. On Oct. 30, Freaky Friday invites guests to dress as the person they would swap lives with. The week ends Oct. 31 with the 2nd Annual Slutty Pumpkin: all-night happy hour, $35 bottomless wine and a $100 prize for the "sluttiest" costume. Address: 8281 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33138 (Little River) | 3540 Main Hwy, Miami, FL 33133 (Coconut Grove) Website: Official website Hotel Halloween: Immersive resort experiences blending festive parties, great dining, and seasonal traditions. The Boca Raton Photo: The Boca Raton The resort serves families and adults alike. On Oct. 24, the Harborside Lawn becomes a Pumpkin Patch where guests can decorate (or smash) a pumpkin. On Oct. 31, the Family Boo Bash fills the Grand Ballroom with costumes, a DJ, kids' crafts, an adult open bar and treats such as "Witches Fingers" and Mini Hot Dog Mummies. The adults-only Día de los Muertos Party follows Nov. 1 with a live DJ, open bars and Mexican-inspired bites. Address: 501 E Camino Real, Boca Raton, FL 33432 Hotel Beauden Photo: Hotel Beauden Outside Miami, Orlando's Hotel Beauden hosts Libra After Dark: A Halloween Affair on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The evening includes a complimentary champagne wall, cocktails crafted by the hotel's mixologist, a live DJ, tarot card readings and a costume contest with prizes for first and second place. Address: 325 S Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801 The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach Photo: The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach On Oct. 31, guests arriving in the afternoon are greeted in the lobby with Halloween Cupcakes & Champagne, pairing spooky sweets with flutes of brut sparkling wine. Later, the Ritz Kids Pumpkin Decorating Workshop at DiLido South gives young guests a pumpkin to take home before a guided trick-or-treating adventure around the resort. Address: 1 Lincoln Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Screen and Scream: Engaging film festivals and movie screenings perfect for fans of horror, suspense, and cinema. OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival: Fall Edition Photo: OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival The 28th-year festival runs Oct. 15 to 25 across Broward and Miami-Dade, with At-Home viewing from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1. Opening night is La Bola Negra on Oct. 15 at Regal Dania Pointe. Horror fans get OUTshine After Dark with the Southeast premiere of Corpus, plus the folk horror Centerpiece No Rest for the Wicked. Other titles include Love on a Tightrope (Tal Vez), Bea Arthur: The Documentary, Jim Queen and The Drive, previewed Oct. 20. Tickets start at $17. Address: Regal Dania Pointe, 10 S Compass Way, Dania Beach, FL 33004 Website: Official website Instagram: @OUTshineFilm By ML Staff. Photos: Provided by each featured venue in this story. Top gif/courtesy of delpicdog

Phones ring through lunch, prior authorizations pile up, and denied claims wait for someone with time to appeal them. For many practices, a medical virtual assistant (VA) is the quickest way to take that load off in-office staff. The harder part is choosing a provider. Some run a managed service with oversight after placement, others bill by the hour and leave supervision to you, and few publish their prices the same way. This guide compares six providers using what each one publishes about itself, and it flags where a provider’s own pages disagree, so you know which details to confirm before you sign. Key Takeaways Managed providers include oversight, replacement and backup coverage after placement. Hourly models cost less per hour but leave supervision to your team. Hello Rache publishes the clearest low rate in this comparison: $9.50 per hour with no setup fees. We found no published rates for three of the six providers, so plan for a consultation call. A HIPAA badge on a website isn’t enough. Ask every provider for a signed business associate agreement (BAA). Match the provider to your bottleneck: front desk, documentation or revenue cycle. Medical VA Providers at a Glance # Provider Service model Published pricing Getting started Best for 1 Wing Assistant Managed, dedicated assistant with a Customer Success Manager Flat monthly, month-to-month Live in 24 to 48 hours Front desk, billing and revenue cycle roles from one vendor 2 Wishup Managed, offshore and US-based plans From $1,299/month on most of its pages Claims onboarding within 60 minutes Automation-savvy VAs or a US-located option 3 Hello Rache Dedicated healthcare VA, hourly $9.50/hour, billed weekly Consultation, no setup fees Live charting and scribe support 4 MedVA Dedicated VA with PULSE client portal No current public rate found Concierge-style onboarding Performance tracking and a secured-facility option 5 My Mountain Mover Dedicated VA, specialty matching No public rate found Two to three matched candidates Specialty practices 6 Portiva Dedicated medical and dental VAs No public rate found Phone line linked to your office Phone-heavy practices How We Compared These Providers We weighed five factors practice owners raise most often: the healthcare roles each provider staffs, the compliance details it publishes, management support after placement, pricing transparency, and onboarding and replacement terms. Details come from each provider’s own website and published listings such as MGMA’s vendor directory. We didn’t rank on review scores, because public reviews of VA providers often mix feedback from client practices with feedback from the assistants who work there. The 6 Best Medical Virtual Assistant Companies 1. Wing Assistant Among virtual medical assistant companies, Wing Assistant stands out for staffing the full administrative cycle of a practice, from receptionists, intake specialists and medical scribes to prior authorization, coding, denials and credentialing specialists. The service is managed, with a Customer Success Manager, quality oversight and backup coverage after placement. Assistants go live within 24 to 48 hours, and a poor match is replaced within 24 hours at no extra cost.” Best for: Practices that want front desk, billing and revenue cycle roles covered by one managed vendor. Pricing: Flat monthly pricing on month-to-month terms, with no long-term contract. Worth knowing: The company lists ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certification alongside HIPAA compliance, and data is encrypted in transit and at rest. Worth knowing: Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, with restricted, logged access. 2. Wishup Wishup runs a managed service with Prime and Elite plans staffed by India-based assistants, plus a separate US-based plan at $3,000 a month part-time or $5,400 full-time. The company says its VAs are trained on more than 120 AI and no-code tools, that onboarding can happen within 60 minutes, and that it signs a BAA with every client. Its healthcare assistants handle EHR entry, insurance verification, billing support and scheduling. Best for: Practices that want automation-savvy assistants or a US-located option. Pricing: Most Wishup pages list part-time plans from $1,299 a month for 80 hours, but some of its own 2026 comparison pages list the Prime plan at $1,999 for a four-hour day. Worth knowing: Confirm the current rate, and which plan includes backup coverage, before signing. 3. Hello Rache Hello Rache was founded in 2017 by Dr. Mark Carnett, a family physician in Arizona. Its assistants are registered nurses and other medical professionals based in the Philippines, and each completes a HIPAA training program. Services include virtual medical scribing, reception, administrative support and transcription, with separate dental and veterinary programs. Practices work with a dedicated assistant and can scale the number of assistants up or down. Best for: Practices that need live charting or scribe support at a low hourly cost. Pricing: $9.50 per hour, billed weekly, with no minimum, no contract and no setup fees. Worth knowing: Much of the review content online comes from assistants rather than client practices, so ask for practice references. 4. MedVA MedVA places dedicated virtual assistants with medical and dental practices for reception, scheduling, insurance verification, billing and records work. Its proprietary PULSE Client Portal lets practices manage their VA and track productivity, and it offers an Epic-approved secured facility option for organizations with stricter regulatory needs. MedVA says more than 700 practices trust it and provides concierge-style onboarding to align each assistant with a practice’s workflow. Best for: Groups that want performance visibility and a secured-facility option. Pricing: We found no current published rate, so request a quote. Worth knowing: Ask whether your assistant would work from the secured facility or remotely, since that affects your compliance review. 5. My Mountain Mover My Mountain Mover matches virtual medical assistants to your specialty and pre-trains them on leading EHR systems. Its Mover Match process combines AI and human review to present two to three pre-vetted candidates, and a dedicated account manager supports the placement from onboarding onward. Every assistant completes HIPAA training with ongoing refreshers, and the company handles VA benefits such as paid time off, sick leave and healthcare coverage. Best for: Specialty practices that want a shortlist of matched candidates. Pricing: No published rate found. The company says practices can save up to 70% of employment costs. Worth knowing: Its structured hiring process runs eight steps, so plan for a short selection period. 6. Portiva Portiva provides medical and dental virtual assistants for front desk and back-office work, including phones, scheduling, insurance verification, prior authorization, billing, records requests, EMR updates and scribing. Its distinctive feature is phone integration: your office line can be linked to the assistant, who answers patient calls and can place calls under your caller ID for patient follow-ups, insurance calls and prescription refills. Assistants also work remotely inside your office computer system. Best for: Phone-heavy practices that want calls handled under their own number. Pricing: No published rate found. Worth knowing: Confirm how remote access to your EMR is secured and logged before go-live. Which Provider Fits Your Practice? Revenue cycle backlog: Our top pick staffs prior authorization, coding and denials specialists as separate roles. Documentation and charting: Hello Rache’s scribe-first model fits practices drowning in after-hours notes. Front desk overflow: Portiva’s phone integration or My Mountain Mover’s specialty matching. Specialty clinics: A cardiology practice fielding more referrals and checkup requests as patients prioritize heart health benefits from assistants matched to its specialty, like My Mountain Mover’s. Performance tracking across sites: MedVA’s PULSE portal. Patient-facing calls from a US-located assistant: Wishup’s US-based plan, if the budget allows. Five Questions to Ask Before You Sign Will you sign a BAA? HHS lists billing, claims processing and practice management among business associate functions, and a covered entity’s arrangement with a business associate must be in writing. What does “HIPAA compliant” rest on? HHS states it doesn’t endorse or recognize private organizations’ Security Rule certifications, and those certifications don’t remove a covered entity’s legal obligations. Ask for the BAA, training records and access controls behind any badge. Who manages the assistant after placement? Find out who handles performance problems and how often quality is reviewed. What happens if the match fails or the assistant is out? Get replacement timelines and backup coverage terms in writing. How will the assistant reach your EHR and phones? Ask about logged access, device security and call routing. What a Medical VA Costs Hourly models are the cheapest on paper. At Hello Rache’s published $9.50 rate, 80 hours a month comes to $760. Managed monthly plans cost more, but they include oversight, replacement and backup coverage that an hourly model leaves to your staff. Compare the total cost, including the hours your practice manager would spend supervising, rather than the headline rate. Final Thoughts The best provider is the one that fixes your specific bottleneck without creating a new management job for your team. Shortlist two or three providers from the table, ask each the five questions above, and get pricing, replacement terms and the BAA in writing before go-live. Frequently Asked Questions What does a medical virtual assistant do? A medical VA handles administrative work remotely, such as scheduling, patient calls, intake, insurance verification, prior authorization, billing follow-up and EHR documentation. Are medical virtual assistants HIPAA compliant? Each provider in this guide says its assistants are HIPAA trained. Compliance for your practice also depends on a signed BAA, secure access to your systems and documented training, so verify all three. What is the cheapest medical virtual assistant option? Among providers here that publish a rate, Hello Rache is lowest at $9.50 per hour. Factor in the supervision time an hourly model requires. Can a medical virtual assistant give medical advice? Administrative assistants shouldn’t. Symptom and treatment questions belong with licensed clinicians, though some providers offer licensed roles, such as a US certified RN for triage. How fast can a medical VA start? It varies by provider. Published timelines in this guide range from same-day onboarding claims to placements within 24 to 48 hours, so ask each provider for a start date in writing. By ML Staff

Subaru of Pembroke Pines, part of Craig Zinn Automotive Group, partnered with the Humane Society of Broward County to host its annual Dog Appreciation “Pawty” and Pet Adoption Event on Sunday, Oct. 25. Held in celebration of Subaru Loves Pets® Month, the free, family-friendly event welcomed hundreds of guests and their four-legged companions for an afternoon of pet adoptions, music, food, giveaways, a pet costume contest and more. Special guests included radio personality Gaby O’Connor from 102.7 The Beach, who returned as emcee, and Tour with Teddy, the event’s official influencer partner. Entertainment included DJ Smiley and a photo booth, along with opportunities for guests to enjoy activities, treats and photo opportunities with their furry friends. The event featured local vendors and community partners, including Brit’s Boards, Broward Bark, DoodyCalls Pet Waste Management, the Humane Society of Broward County, Pet Evolution and Pet Spaw Palace. Participating businesses offered pet-related products, services and resources, contributing to an afternoon of fun for pets and their families. “At Subaru of Pembroke Pines, giving back to our community is an important part of who we are,” said Alain de Rougemont, general manager of Subaru of Pembroke Pines. “Our annual Pawty brings together pet lovers, local businesses and community partners for a great cause. Through our continued partnership with the Humane Society of Broward County, we hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals in need while creating a fun experience for the families who support us throughout the year.” The Humane Society of Broward County was on-site with adoptable pets, giving attendees the opportunity to meet animals in search of loving homes. A highlight of the afternoon was the announcement of Subaru of Pembroke Pines’ 2026 Pet of the Year. Throughout the year, the dealership hosted its monthly Pet of the Month social media contest, inviting winners to return for the annual celebration. Loki was crowned the 2026 Pet of the Year, receiving a large gift basket filled with dog treats, pet swag and more. The event was part of Subaru Loves Pets®, a national Subaru initiative dedicated to improving the lives of shelter animals and helping them find loving homes. Through the initiative, Subaru donates $100 for every pet adopted during October, further demonstrating its commitment to supporting animals in need. Since partnering with the Humane Society of Broward County in 2021, Subaru of Pembroke Pines has donated more than $140,000 through the Subaru Share the Love® Event to support shelter animals and help them find loving homes. In addition to its work with the Humane Society of Broward County, Subaru of Pembroke Pines has long supported local organizations including Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Memorial Hospital West, Cleveland Clinic and Children’s Harbor. Over the years, the dealership has donated more than $1.7 million to the local community as part of the Subaru Share the Love® program. Through these efforts, Subaru of Pembroke Pines continues to give back to the community and help improve the lives of local residents and animals alike. To learn more about Subaru Loves Pets®, visit www.subaru.com/pets and follow @SubaruLovesPets on social media. By ML Staff.

A hauntingly good car wash awaits! Rising Tide Car Wash, a scalable social enterprise with the primary mission to employ adults with autism, will celebrate Halloween with a Haunted Car Wash at its Margate location, Oct. 29 through 31, where dirty cars meet their doom. Customers can purchase a wash or redeem a membership wash to experience frights, bites and shiny rides. Guests can drive through a frightfully fun, Halloween-themed car wash, complete with spooky sights and frightful surprises. Staff members in costume will interact with customers throughout the property, including the car wash tunnel and free vacuum areas, and distribute candy and treats. Halloween music will play in the free vacuum area during the event, and some team members will carry personal speakers with themed music. Friday's after-dark hours are expected to offer the most noticeable effects, which will include colorful and strobe lighting, fog machines and projections on break-room windows. Visitors may take photos with staff and decorated backgrounds during their visit. Customers who visit in costume may upload a photo taken at the car wash and tag Rising Tide Car Wash on social media for a chance to receive free car washes or upgrades. Any exterior decorations on customer vehicles must not interfere with regular car wash operations. Rising Tide’s unsurpassed car wash services, ranging in price from $14.95 to $38.32, include the Tide Glaze, Tide Gloss, and Tide Guard washes as well as express interior cleanings. It also offers a Ripple Club Unlimited Wash Club membership for a fast and convenient way to keep cars shining year-round. COO and Co-Founder, Thomas D’Eri and his father, John D’Eri, CEO and co-founder of Rising Tide Car Wash, created the innovative social enterprise to develop a scalable solution for employing individuals with autism. They were inspired to do this by watching John’s son and Thomas’ brother Andrew, a vibrant young man with autism, struggle to find his place in the world. Rising Tide Car Wash has created an innovative model that intentionally designs the work environment in a way that empowers individuals with autism to thrive and produce extraordinary results. Rising Tide Car Wash has created an innovative model that intentionally designs the work environment in a way that empowers individuals with autism to thrive and produce extraordinary results. By delivering a first-rate car wash experience to the consumer, Rising Tide strives to inspire communities to change their perception of the capabilities of people with autism. Through intensive training, team building and caring for the community, Rising Tide sets its employees up for success. With this model, Rising Tide has a goal to provide people with autism with an opportunity to build a career and achieve an independent lifestyle. With over 100 employees, 80% of its workforce with autism, and three locations in South Florida ― Parkland, Margate and Coral Springs ― Rising Tide Car Wash is one of the largest employers of people with autism in the U.S. The company has hired more than 400 neurodivergent individuals to date. It has an alumni network of more than 175 individuals with autism who have moved on to new jobs or pursued higher education, proving the value that people with autism bring to the workforce. When: Regular operating hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, with the last interior cleaning sold at 6:45 p.m. Friday's extended event hours will offer exterior washes only after 6:45 p.m., continuing until 8:30 p.m. Costumed staff will distribute candy Thursday, Oct. 29, from 12:30 to 7 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 30, from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 31, from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Where: Rising Tide Car Wash Margate 2970 FL-7, Margate, FL 33063 How: Customers must purchase any exterior car wash or redeem a membership wash to enter the tunnel. The site follows a one-way traffic pattern, and activities are intended to complement the wash experience without delaying vehicle movement. For more information, please visit risingtidecarwash.com. Cost: Rising Tide’s unsurpassed car wash services, ranging in price from $14.95 to $38.32, include the Tide Glaze, Tide Gloss, and Tide Guard washes as well as express interior cleanings. It also offers a Ripple Club Unlimited Wash Club membership for a fast and convenient way to keep cars shining year-round. By ML Staff.

Every child has the power to be a hero! 35 students from American Heritage Schools’ Pre-Medical Program, from both their Broward and Palm Beach campuses, donned their capes and organized the 27th Annual Superhero Party at The Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at Broward Health Medical Center for 24 pediatric cancer patients on Oct. 2. The Pre-Med Society, under the guidance of Dr. Carlos Pulido, director of American Heritage Schools’ Pre-Medical Program, organized the day and decorated the hospital auditorium with superhero-themed décor before the event. During the superhero party, the patients had the opportunity to write their wish lists for Santa and mail them to the North Pole, play board games and dress up as their favorite superheroes. For each list, American Heritage Schools Pre-Medical Program students plan to raise funds to make those wishes come true and celebrate with the patients at their holiday party at the Broward Health Medical Center. In addition, 60 students from American Heritage Schools’ Pre-Medical Program, from both campuses, will host the upcoming 27th annual holiday party for 24 pediatric cancer patients from Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital at Broward Health Medical Center. American Heritage Schools’ Pre-Medical Program has hosted this initiative for the past 27 years. The dedication of the Pre-Med Society and its students has touched the lives of countless families, with over 1,000 American Heritage Schools’ students participating in the program’s 27-year history. The students’ passion for contributing and community involvement is reflected in the thousands of dollars raised through local fundraising events, which enabled them to build two new pediatric playrooms at Broward General Hospital. The hospital staff support the students in their mission to brighten the lives of young superheroes battling cancer at the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at Broward Health Medical Center. For more information about American Heritage Schools, visit its website. By ML Staff.

Image by DepositPhotos Your follower count is the first number people see on your Instagram profile, and it quietly shapes whether they follow, message or keep scrolling. That is why plenty of creators, small businesses and local brands now give their count a head start instead of waiting months. The hard part is knowing which sellers deserve your money. We compared six well-known providers using only what each one publishes on its own pages, and ranked them from the strongest all-rounder down. How we ranked these providers We compared the providers’ own pages in October 2026 and looked at five things: Delivery style: gradual, instant or your choice. Account access: nothing beyond your public username. Guarantees: refill windows and refund terms in writing. Pricing: smallest package, range and upfront prices. Payment and support: accepted methods and support hours. Prices are as listed on each site in October 2026 and may change. 1. Views4You Views4You takes the top spot because it pairs a wide range of follower packages with the clearest set of guarantees on this list. Its two follower tiers mean a brand-new account and an established business page are not forced into the same product. If you want to buy Instagram followers without guessing what happens after checkout, Views4You lays the process out step by step. Its Real Followers tier is built for people who want real followers on a business or creator profile, and gradual delivery is the default: the site says delivery usually begins within the first few days and builds steadily, with most buyers seeing the full effect within about a week. Ordering is simple: set your profile to public, pick a package, and enter your Instagram username and email. Views4You never asks for your password. You can pay by card, PayPal or cryptocurrency through an SSL-encrypted checkout. The package range is broad. The High Quality tier starts at 50 followers for $0.98 and goes up to 50,000, while the Real Followers tier runs from 500 followers at $10.89 up to 50,000, as listed on its site in October 2026. First-time buyers can also try a one-time free follower package to see how delivery works before spending anything. Every order is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, a refill policy if your count dips, and 24/7 support. You can also combine followers with likes or views, and the team will help build a mix that fits your account. The one thing to know: Views4You is not built for an overnight jump. The pacing is deliberate, and that is what keeps new followers looking like normal growth. Best for: creators and businesses who want a natural-looking climb with clear guarantees Delivery: gradual, usually starting within the first few days Starting price: $0.98 for 50 followers (High Quality tier), October 2026 Standout: 30-day money-back guarantee, refills and a free trial package 2. FollowersCart FollowersCart suits buyers who want flexible payment and a written refill window. Its packages start at $1.75 for 100 followers and go up to 10,000, as listed on its site in October 2026, each labeled “100% English Names.” Small orders of 100 to 500 followers begin within minutes, while larger ones use drip-feed delivery spread over several days. The refill guarantee covers drops within 30 days of delivery, and a money-back guarantee applies if an order runs late. Checkout accepts PayPal, Stripe, Visa and Mastercard, and you only need your public username and email. Support can also build custom packages. Best for: buyers who prefer paying through PayPal Delivery: minutes for small orders, drip-feed for larger ones Starting price: $1.75 for 100 followers, October 2026 Standout: 30-day refill guarantee and custom packages 3. InsFollowPro InsFollowPro is transparent on price. Its grid starts at 50 followers for $1.13, and the site shows the cost per follower falling from about $0.026 at 50 to $0.005 at 50,000. It offers 13 package sizes, up to 400,000 followers. Most orders start within minutes, and large ones are paced over hours or days. You can try 20 free followers first. One practical note: orders are currently processed by its partner GoRead, which also handles post-checkout support, a setup InsFollowPro calls temporary. Payment is by card or Apple Pay. Best for: buyers comparing price per follower at larger sizes Delivery: starts within minutes, larger orders paced Starting price: $1.13 for 50 followers, October 2026 Standout: packages up to 400,000 and a free 20-follower trial 4. FriendlyLikes FriendlyLikes stands out for country targeting: besides worldwide followers, you can choose the USA, Germany, France or Italy. General packages start from $1.40 and run from 10 to 10,000 followers, while US-targeted followers start at $4.90 for 50, as listed on its site in October 2026. You can ask for instant or drip-feed delivery. It accepts PayPal, cards and crypto, refills drops within 30 days of purchase, and offers a full refund if an order is not delivered in the promised timeline. There is no free trial, so the smallest pack is the way to test it. Best for: accounts that want followers from a specific country Delivery: instant or drip-feed, your choice Starting price: from $1.40, October 2026 Standout: USA, Germany, France and Italy targeting 5. Smmbuz Smmbuz, around since 2016, suits buyers who start a little bigger. Its follower page lists two package types, High Quality and Active, with the smallest High Quality order at 500 followers for $6.45 as listed on its site in October 2026, and options up to 50,000. Orders start right away and are spread over a few days, and support can slow delivery further on request. Country-targeted followers, including the USA and UK, are available through support. Payment options are among the widest here: cards, PayPal, Apple Pay and Coinbase crypto. Best for: buyers starting at 500 followers or more Delivery: starts immediately, spread over a few days Starting price: $6.45 for 500 followers, October 2026 Standout: wide payment choice and country targeting on request 6. Krootez Krootez, running since 2017, is a straightforward option for small top-ups. Packages range from 20 to 10,000 followers, starting at $2.97 for 20, as listed on its site in October 2026. There is no registration: paste your username, choose a package and check out. It takes PayPal, cards and crypto, and a free refill program covers its services. Its small packages cost more per follower than most here, so it fits buyers who value a simple checkout over the lowest price. Best for: small first orders with PayPal checkout Delivery: fast processing, instant start Starting price: $2.97 for 20 followers, October 2026 Standout: no account registration needed Quick comparison Provider Smallest package (Oct 2026) Guarantee Payment Views4You 50 for $0.98 30-day money-back + refill Card, PayPal, crypto FollowersCart 100 for $1.75 30-day refill, money-back PayPal, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard InsFollowPro 50 for $1.13 Free refill, refund policy Card, Apple Pay FriendlyLikes from $1.40 30-day refill, refund if late PayPal, card, crypto Smmbuz 500 for $6.45 Refill, money-back Card, PayPal, Apple Pay, crypto Krootez 20 for $2.97 Free refill program PayPal, card, crypto How to choose the right provider Start with your current size. Several of these sites give the same advice: match the order to the account you have today. A profile with a few hundred followers looks more natural with a package in the hundreds than with a jump to 10,000. Next, look at delivery. Gradual delivery reads like normal growth, while instant delivery suits a quick top-up before a launch. Then read the guarantee. A written refill window and clear refund terms show how a provider handles small drops. Finally, keep posting. Followers work best next to steady content, and some buyers add likes or views so engagement keeps pace. If you are unsure, start with a small order or a free trial. Image by DepositPhotos FAQ Is it safe to buy Instagram followers? Yes, with the providers on this list you never share your password. They only need your public username and an email for order updates, and gradual delivery keeps growth looking natural. How many followers should I buy? Pick an amount that fits your current audience. Smaller accounts usually start with a few hundred, while larger pages can move into the thousands. How long does delivery take? Small orders at some sites start within minutes. Gradual services such as Views4You usually begin within the first few days, with the full effect visible within about a week. Do I need to keep my profile public? Yes, during delivery, since followers cannot be added to a private profile. Some providers note you can switch back afterward. By ML Staff. Images courtesy of DepositPhotos

The Dan Marino Foundation is now part of the Community Foundation of Broward, thanks to a new endowment created by Dan and Claire Marino to carry on their mission to empower people with autism and other developmental disabilities to live life to the fullest. During Dan Marino’s legendary career as quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, he and Claire’s second son, Michael, was diagnosed with autism. So, in 1992, he and Claire launched the Dan Marino Foundation, which for more than 30 years has invested in programs, partnerships and innovative approaches to help people with special needs overcome obstacles and reach their full potential. Now, by establishing the endowed Dan Marino Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation, the Marinos have enlisted the Community Foundation’s expert team to continue their strategic grantmaking, innovative fundraising and dynamic collaborations that elevate opportunities and shape brighter futures for people with autism and other developmental disabilities. This philanthropy partnership ensures ongoing, sustainable support to foster independent living, increase access to therapeutic services, bolster social connections, open doors to post-secondary education, invest in employment initiatives, research ways to improve quality of life, and much more. “All the things we’ve done over the years to raise money started not only with seeing how Mike developed, but also with understanding how important it was to help others,” Dan Marino said. “By teaming up with the Community Foundation, Claire and I want to ensure that individuals with autism and their families continue to have access to the support and opportunities they need for generations to come.” The Community Foundation will work closely with the Marino family to ensure that grantmaking support from their new fund invests in innovative opportunities to make a lasting difference. The Community Foundation will safeguard the Marinos’ endowed fund, helping it grow through careful investment, so the Marinos’ grantmaking impact continues for generations. In addition, the public can continue to support the Marinos’ important mission by donating to their fund at the Community Foundation. For more information about the endowed fund, visit cfbroward.org/danmarinofoundation. “We are honored to partner with Dan and Claire Marino to carry on the important mission of the Dan Marino Foundation through their endowed charitable fund at the Community Foundation,” said Community Foundation President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, Ph.D. “For more than three decades, the Marinos have championed support for empowering people with autism to live life to the fullest. Now they have ensured permanent, sustainable support to uplift families and shape brighter futures for generations to come.” With the establishment of the Dan Marino Foundation Fund, Dan and Claire join the Community Foundation’s “Community Builders” – visionary philanthropists who partner with the Community Foundation to transform lives and uplift our community by creating endowed charitable funds of $1 million or more. The Dan Marino Foundation will be among the newest honorees recognized at the Community Foundation’s annual Community Builder Celebration, taking place at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Community Foundation now has 72 Community Builders, whose collective gifts exceed $170 million, nearly half of the assets that fuel the Community Foundation’s grantmaking to local nonprofits. The Community Builders include dedicated individuals, families and community organizations who support innovation and tackle Broward’s big challenges with grants from their endowed funds that uplift our community. Through the Community Foundation’s careful stewardship, the principal of their endowment is invested and grows over time, providing a continuous and permanent source of support for charitable causes important to our Community Builders. By partnering with the Community Foundation for their philanthropy, Community Builders amplify their impact today and create a legacy of community support that never ends. By ML Staff.

At least a quarter of Americans suffer from high levels of cholesterol or fatty acids in their bloodstream, a condition called dyslipidemia. Uncontrolled cholesterol levels increase the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD: a group of diseases that result from the buildup of plaque in the blood vessels, preventing blood from traveling smoothly to vital organs. This condition can lead to heart attack and stroke. Diet is an important lifestyle factor influencing your risk of cardiovascular disease. Huizeng Hu/Moment via Getty Images As a cardiologist with expertise in sports and exercise science, I routinely take care of patients who are interested in making healthy lifestyle choices to control their cholesterol levels, reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and improve overall health. In March 2026, new guidelines were provided on how to treat dyslipidemia, by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. These guidelines, which were last updated in 2018, include findings from several new studies about how to more effectively treat – and prevent – this condition. These new guidelines are important for both patients and doctors interested in improving heart health. Of note, these guidelines can help doctors personalize treatment to reduce each individual patient’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. What changed in the new guidelines? Compared to prior guidelines, the 2026 update emphasizes the need to treat high cholesterol and fatty acids earlier in life and more aggressively in order to reduce the risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease later in life. This push toward earlier and more aggressive treatment is based on the observation that there is a strong relationship between the duration of high cholesterol blood levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease over the span of a lifetime. The new guidelines provide clinicians with information on how to use blood tests and imaging tools to help determine a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Some important blood tests include standard lipid tests like levels of LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and HDL (the “good” cholesterol), but the new guidelines also emphasize the importance of some newer blood tests like lipoprotein A (LpA) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB). The updated guidelines also recommend checking coronary artery calcium (CAC) levels, which older guidelines did not include. Importantly, the guidelines encourage providers to use an online calculator called PREVENT-ASCVD, which uses several factors to determine whether a patient is at low, intermediate or high risk for cardiovascular disease. These factors include body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes history, kidney function and smoking status. The PREVENT-ASCVD calculator also provides an estimate of someone’s risk of cardiovascular disease over 10 years starting at age 30, as well as a risk estimate over the next 30 years. Based on a patient’s risk level, the guidelines list several newer classes of medications that can be incorporated into a treatment plan for high cholesterol levels. Medications called statins – such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor) – remain the standard of care for cholesterol management. Several types of additional medications are recommended if statins alone are unable to help patients achieve their cholesterol goals or if a patient experiences intolerable side effects on statins. HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol contributes to healthy blood vessels, while LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol can lead to blockages and narrowing of blood vessels. Sakkura/iStock via Getty Images Plus Why were the guidelines updated? In the mid-20th century, physiologists identified two molecules key to cardiovascular disease: LDL and HDL cholesterol. Epidemiologists observed that high LDL was tied to an increase in heart attack risk. In the 1980s, two physiologists were awarded the Nobel Prize for discovering the LDL receptor, a protein on the surface of cells that regulates how much LDL cholesterol is brought into cells. This foundational work transformed the way doctors thought about heart health and cardiovascular disease. In the new guidelines, LDL remains the traditional marker for determining cardiovascular disease risk. Other biomarkers like triglycerides and total cholesterol also remain important to check. However, the guidelines include two newer markers – ApoB and LpA – that may help determine cardiovascular disease risk beyond LDL alone. ApoB is a chemical structure that can be found on plaque-forming particles like LDL. While LDL measures the mass of plaques in the blood, ApoB measures the number of plaque particles in the blood. In some scenarios, ApoB may more accurately predict someone’s risk of cardiovascular disease than LDL cholesterol, especially for patients with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. It can also be particularly useful for patients who have normal LDL levels but elevated levels of other lab values like triglycerides. LpA is a molecule similar to LDL cholesterol in structure, but with an extra protein attached to it called apolipoprotein A. This protein is stickier and more prone to cause plaque or blockages in arteries than LDL alone. Elevated levels of LpA may increase a person’s lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease; the higher the LpA level, the higher the risk of cardiovascular disease. The guidelines recommend checking LpA once in all adults to help determine their lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. Finally, the new guidelines also provide information on coronary artery calcium scores. Obtained from a CT scan, these scores directly measure the amount of calcium deposits in the arteries around the heart. The greater the amount of calcium, the greater the risk of cardiovascular disease. The guidelines provide specific recommendations for managing cholesterol levels depending on the amount of calcium in a patient’s arteries. These patient-specific targets are representative of the broader goal of the new guidelines – namely, to personalize treatment plans based on each patient’s unique risk profile. How do the new guidelines affect treatment? The new guidelines shift how doctors manage cholesterol levels toward earlier screening and more personalized treatment. They emphasize the importance of lifelong prevention strategies to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. The guidelines recommend checking lipid levels very early in life. Children ages 9 to 11 should have their cholesterol levels checked to identify any lipid abnormalities. Starting at age 19, adults should have cholesterol levels checked every five years. Adults at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease may also consider starting medications at age 30. The guidelines also recommend what’s called a CPR model of cholesterol management: Calculate the patient’s 10-year cardiovascular disease risk. Personalize their estimated risk by considering other factors like family history, blood test results and existing conditions. Reclassify patients with additional imaging scans. Reassess treatment recommendations based on this information. This approach underscores the importance of personalizing treatment decisions based on each individual patient’s risk. Foods like olive oil, avocados, salmon, sardines, chia seed and nuts can improve cholesterol levels. fcafotodigital/iStock via Getty Images What do the guidelines say about lifestyle? It is important to remember that healthy lifestyle choices remain the foundation for preventing cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association recommends specific healthy behaviors it calls Life’s Essential 8 to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk. These include getting enough sleep, quitting tobacco and managing blood pressure, among others. The new cholesterol guidelines emphasize the importance of modifying diet, including reducing the amount of sugar, refined carbohydrates, saturated fats and alcohol a person consumes each day. The guidelines emphasize the importance of routine exercise. Specifically, they recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity exercise, or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise throughout adulthood. They also recommend two days per week of resistance exercise. Lastly, the guidelines recommend weight loss of around 5% to 10% of total body weight for patients who are overweight or obese to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Words by William Cornwell, Associate Professor of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

Ultraprocessed foods have a terrible reputation. Ultraprocessed foods make up a huge part of the global diet. beats3/iStock via Getty Images Plus Studies have linked them with multiple chronic diseases. Journalists and health influencers characterize them as poison. Some public health experts call for a global halt to producing and consuming them. But the debate around ultraprocessed foods is not nearly as settled as it may seem. As a researcher who studies social movements for healthy and sustainable food, I have been documenting the history of processed foods and examining debates around the science and politics of ultraprocessing. In basic terms, ultraprocessed foods are mass-produced, industrial formulations that use ingredients not typically found in a home kitchen, and that generally contain little to no intact whole foods. Yet the very definition of ultraprocessed is highly contested. While a growing number of advocates say that ultraprocessing is dangerous to public health, skeptics counter that the fervor around the topic has become a moral panic, and insist that some ultraprocessed foods can be part of a healthy diet. A brief history of food processing People have been processing food – that is, transforming crops and animals into food ingredients and products – for all of human history. Cooking, which historians generally consider the first form of food processing, goes back as far as 2 million years. In the millennia and centuries that followed, people developed and refined other traditional food processing methods, including grinding, baking, fermenting, drying and pressing. New types of food processing were created during the industrial age, beginning in the mid-18th century. Canning, pasteurization and refrigeration were among the major innovations that reshaped not only how people eat but society as a whole. Before that time, nearly all food was local food – that is, produced within a few dozen miles – and people consumed fresh foods quickly to avoid spoilage. Food processing promised to improve food safety, shelf life, quality, convenience, taste and healthfulness. The world became more urbanized as regional and international supply chains developed. Geographically dispersed farmers were connected to retailers and consumers across the newly modern food system. From the mid-20th into the 21st century, food manufacturers added a host of complex technological innovations to the food processing playbook. Their efforts made processed foods more standardized for the mass market and more convenient for consumers. But public health experts warned that processed junk foods were packed with salt, sugar and saturated fat – problematic nutrients linked to obesity, diabetes and other diet-related diseases. Food processing and the NOVA framework By the mid-2000s, some healthy food advocates began to argue that the nature and extent of food processing, rather than the presence of specific problematic nutrients, explained diet-related chronic disease. The journalist Michael Pollan famously implored his audience to avoid “edible food-like substances.” Instead, he advised: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro coined the term “ultraprocessing” in 2009 as part of his work on what he and colleagues called the NOVA classification. The NOVA framework establishes a four-category system that characterizes a food based on its level of processing. According to the NOVA classification developed by Brazilian epidemiologist Carlos Monteiro, ultraprocessed foods are defined as industrially manufactured food products that would be impossible to make at home. Anastasia Usenko/iStock via Getty Images Plus NOVA Category 1 includes unprocessed or minimally processed plant or animal foods that are close to their natural state and contain no additives. Category 2 refers to processed culinary ingredients – that is, products derived from Category 1 via pressing, grinding or similar techniques. Category 3 describes processed foods made by combining Category 1 and Category 2 using traditional methods, such as baking, boiling or canning. NOVA Category 4 foods are ultraprocessed foods, often described as industrially manufactured food products that can’t be made at home. Examples of ultraprocessing include separating whole foods into substances, chemically formulating foods or using cosmetic additives such as food dyes. According to the framework, corporations design ultraprocessed foods to be convenient, hyperpalatable and highly profitable. They are packaged attractively, marketed intensively and intended to displace other food groups. Today, ultraprocessed foods make up an increasingly large share of global diets. They account for more than 50% of total calories in the United States, with many low- and-middle income nations not far behind. Unsettled science Since the NOVA framework emerged, researchers have tried to test whether food processing can explain how certain foods affect people’s health. The vast majority of this work has explored correlations between consuming ultraprocessed foods and developing health problems. One consistent result stands out: People who consume more ultraprocessed foods are at higher risk for multiple chronic diseases and early death. However, even that conclusion is more complex than it appears. It turns out that certain categories of ultraprocessed foods – such as sweetened beverages like sodas and processed meats like deli meats – are consistently associated with negative health outcomes including heart disease and stroke. But other ultraprocessed products – breads, cold cereals, yogurt and even savory snacks – have actually been correlated with lower rates of these health problems. Still other ultraprocessed foods – including sauces, condiments and ready-to-heat dishes like frozen dinners – show no consistent links to people’s health one way or the other. Only a handful of clinical trials that can actually show cause and effect have explored ultraprocessed foods’ effects on health. One prominent study did find that participants who ate a diet of ultraprocessed foods for two weeks consumed more calories and gained more weight than participants who followed a minimally processed diet, but other experiments have found no clear effect. What’s more, these studies generally last just a few weeks – far too short a time frame to draw conclusions about long-term health impacts. A tricky definition Some food science researchers are unsurprised by these mixed findings, arguing that the definition of “ultraprocessed” is ambiguous and frequently subjective. For example, a cake prepared by a home baker would be considered a NOVA Category 3 “processed food.” But if that same cake were industrially manufactured using a commercial preservative, then packaged and sold at a grocery store, it would become a NOVA Category 4 “ultraprocessed food” – even if the two cakes were nutritionally identical. Fundamentally, many nutrition scientists remain unconvinced that processing alone can explain why certain foods are associated with poor health. Instead, they emphasize that unhealthy ultraprocessed foods frequently have poor nutritional profiles and other qualities that make them easy to overeat. And they argue that making ultraprocessed foods healthier, not getting rid of them entirely, can improve public health. Vilifying ultraprocessed foods may have harms, they suggest, like creating unnecessary fear and promoting disordered eating. It can also stigmatize eco-friendly, plant-based meats or ultraprocessed products such as baby formula that are designed for clinical nutrition. The wholesale rejection of ultraprocessed foods could also make life more difficult for families who rely on the convenience and affordability the products offer. Processing versus nutrients On the other hand, many food policy and public health researchers maintain that the common definition of ultraprocessed is clear enough, especially if exceptions are made for healthy ultraprocessed foods. They also note that many supporters of ultraprocessed foods have ties to the food industry. They insist that the existing evidence is strong enough to take immediate policy action, including making changes to how ultraprocessed foods are produced, purchased and marketed. Regulating ultraprocessed foods wouldn’t just benefit public health, advocates argue. It could also help rein in harms to food culture, business and the environment. In this sense, ultraprocessed foods are a symptom of a bigger problem: an unsustainable industrial food system that is dominated by a handful of corporations. That argument, of course, is plenty contested too. Ultimately, researchers and advocates from all sides of the debate mostly agree that the modern food environment needs to be made healthier. The key point of disagreement, however, is whether policymaking and dietary guidance should directly address ultraprocessing or stick to a more traditional focus on nutrients instead. Words by Garrett M. Broad, Professor of Communication Studies, Rowan University. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.

It’s easy to stereotype older adults as tech-averse or novice tech users. Yet a growing number of adults age 60 and older are embracing artificial intelligence, using it for entertainment, planning trips and even accessing health information. Chatbots can summarize complex health information in understandable ways, but it can be tricky to tell whether these summaries are accurate. FatCamera/E+ via Getty Images I study how people interact with computers and technology – and specifically, how older adults use voice assistants and AI-powered chatbots like Amazon Alexa and ChatGPT to engage with information. Using AI for health information can be particularly fraught because chatbots can be so helpful in explaining complex medical information, but also risky if users automatically trust the responses they receive. My research suggests that the most productive way of engaging with health information generated by an AI chatbot is from a position of informed skepticism – that is, remaining open-minded, yet using built-in features to evaluate the credibility and quality of chatbot responses. The AI appeal About 1 in 5 adults turn to AI chatbots to ask questions about health, according to a 2025 survey of 300 adults. Questions might include asking about symptoms or seeking advice about diet and fitness. The chatbots might be mainstream services such as Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT or systems designed for a specific health provider. People turn to these tools for many reasons. It can be easier to talk to a chatbot about sensitive topics, and chatbots reply almost instantaneously – much quicker than making an appointment to see your doctor weeks or months down the line. Chatbots can also explain complex topics in new ways and condense an overwhelming amount of information into a simple summary. Although older people may be less likely than others to use AI, I’ve found in my own work that older people often use voice assistants like Siri and Alexa to ask health questions. Similarly, a poll I conducted with colleagues in 2025 shows that 1 in 2 older adults report using AI chatbots or voice assistants, and about 14% of people in this group are accessing health information. Older adults often experience more health needs than younger adults due to long-term chronic health conditions or new age-related diagnoses. More health needs often means more health-related questions. AI is particularly appealing for health questions because people get answers faster than searching across multiple websites when using a search engine – or having to wait for a healthcare visit. Moreover, being able to use chatbots and voice assistants at home can make people feel more in control of their health, compared with clinical settings where older people’s autonomy can be overlooked or where they may experience being excluded in lieu of conversations with caregivers. What are the risks? Although older people may use chatbots to supplement or replace medical professionals, AI use has risks. For example, it can provide incorrect advice in medical emergencies, misclassify health conditions and be overly agreeable, responding with what it deduces the user wants to hear, even if the response is not factually accurate. AI experts call this last tendency “sycophancy.” But these inaccuracies can be hard for a user to detect. AI-powered chatbots draw on vast amounts of data and use pattern-matching to predict words most likely to come next in a sentence. That means the output can appear correct but contain inaccurate information. Most mainstream chatbots include a warning under the dialogue box noting that their output might contain mistakes, but it is often in small or gray text, making it easy to overlook. The warning is meant to encourage cross-checking information with published sources, but users rarely do so. In the 2025 survey mentioned above of 300 adults who used a health chatbot, 4 in 5 admitted they never verified its output. In my own research, I found that older people searching with a voice assistant preferred to begin and complete their search process on the same device, suggesting they are unlikely to verify an AI chatbot’s output if it takes them to a different format. In contrast, younger adults expected AI to be a step in the search process, guiding them to seeking further information with the help of another option, such as a search engine. This difference makes it critical to provide strategies to older people as they use AI. Another risk is privacy, since AI companies that make public chatbots often keep user prompts for training future models. Researchers generally recommend that users not include personally identifiable information when asking questions to chatbots. Your healthcare provider is best positioned to help you understand how a chatbot’s general advice applies to your specific situation. skynesher/E+ via Getty Images Strategies for safer searching Awareness that older adults may use AI in ways distinct from other demographic groups – and may encounter specific challenges – is growing. A bipartisan bill, the Aging with AI Act, introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2026, for example, underscores the need for more research on both its benefits and its risks. My research points to a few guidelines to start with: Learn how to opt out of AI. Although mainstream chatbots like ChatGPT are popular, the most common way people access AI is through a search engine because AI features are often built directly into search results. Some search engines, like Microsoft’s Bing, ask people to opt into using AI. Others, like Google Search, rely on users to opt out of AI. Google shares an AI-generated summary at the top of each search result. To opt out when searching for information using Google, adding “-ai” to the end of the search query will remove AI content. Opting out of AI might be useful when searching for particularly sensitive health information that you wish to keep private. Use the information quality features. Most AI chatbots have features that allow users to confirm the source of its output. For example, Claude, Gemini and ChatGPT include links to sources they used to predict the response. Make sure you explore these sources to confirm they are legitimate and to get more details that can help you find the information you need. Further, you can change the model the chatbot is using, which can change how much depth the chatbot goes into in its response. For example, Gemini has a drop-down menu next to the search box that includes “flash-lite,” “flash” and “pro” models. Chatbots’ more advanced versions provide more thorough responses that can help users better determine information quality. And users can report inaccurate, toxic or harmful content by clicking the thumbs down icon shown at the bottom of the response. Ask better questions. Ask for objective information that can be verified, rather than subjective advice, particularly in high-risk health contexts. For example, instead of asking “which high blood pressure medicine should I take?” ask “what are the side effects of” a particular high blood pressure medicine. And to prevent sycophancy, phrase questions neutrally. For example, instead of asking “Is it a good idea to get a flu shot?” a searcher can instead type “Tell me about the pros and cons of getting flu shots.” Don’t use AI as a replacement for medical professionals. Health-related chatbot output is best used collaboratively with a medical professional. This might include saving the chatbot output to discuss during your next healthcare appointment, using chatbots to understand complex diagnoses from your doctor, or getting a chatbot to suggest questions to ask your doctor during your next visit. Most importantly, confirm health-related answers that result in making changes to your health routine with your healthcare provider. A knowledgeable, licensed healthcare provider is best qualified to determine how general information about illness or treatments would apply to your specific situation. Words by Robin Brewer, Associate Professor of Information, University of Michigan. Special thanks for The Conversation. Support and donate today.