Dear Project Heal SBC community,
FAA Advisory + What It Means for Your Travel Plans
We’re sharing this time‑sensitive update to help you navigate the recent Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation advisory over parts of Latin America with clarity—not fear. As a community health–focused nonprofit based in Santa Barbara County, Project Heal’s role is to translate complex issues into calm, practical information that supports your travel, your work, and your family’s well‑being.
This post explains what the FAA’s 60‑day advisory is, what it is not, and simple steps you can take if you have upcoming flights or health‑related travel in the region.
✈️ Travel & Community Health Update
The FAA has issued a 60‑day aviation advisory over parts of Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, and nearby Pacific airspace due to potential military activity and possible GPS/GNSS interference.
✅ Flights are not banned; airlines are adjusting routes as a safety precaution.
✅ No passenger‑flight incidents have been reported linked to this advisory.
✅ This is about aviation risk management, not about labeling countries as unsafe to visit.
At Project Heal of Santa Barbara County, we share public health information for education only—to support calm, informed decisions, not fear.
🔗 Learn more and see our travel checklist on our website: [add link]
Compassion. Connection. Care.™
“Information shared by Project Heal of Santa Barbara County is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or travel advice. Please consult airlines, aviation authorities, and health professionals for guidance specific to your situation.”
(Project HEAL Santa Barbara County)
Southern California
Community Health Notices
January 22, 2026
Residents of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties should be aware of several important public health and healthcare issues affecting our communities. This notice summarizes key concerns to help you protect yourself and your family.
Santa Barbara County:
Medi‑Cal provider changes
Recent federal and state policy changesmean that about 7,500 county residents will no longer be able to receive Medi‑Cal primary care at certain county health centers, and many are being reassigned to new providers through CenCal Health.ksby+2
Impacted patients will receive mailed notices explaining changes to their eligibility and primary care, and are encouraged to review all letters, contact CenCal Health, and speak with their current clinic to avoid gaps in care.independent+2
Ventura County:
Kratom product risks
Ventura County Behavioral Health and the California Department of Public Health have issued alerts about kratom and kratom‑derived products, which are sold in smoke shops, some convenience stores, and online as “natural” mood or pain remedies.hca.venturacounty+2
Health officials warn that kratom can cause dependence, withdrawal, liver injury, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure, and overdose, especially when combined with alcohol, opioids, or other drugs, and they advise avoiding these products and seeking medical care for concerning symptoms.news.venturacounty+2
Ventura & Los Angeles Counties:
Toxic wild mushrooms
California is experiencing a large outbreak of poisonings from death cap and related toxic mushrooms, with confirmed deaths, liver transplants, and dozens of severe illnesses linked to foraged mushrooms; cases have been reported in multiple counties, including in Southern California.hca.venturacounty+3
Public health officials urge residents not to eat wild mushrooms found in yards, parks, or open spaces and to seek immediate emergency care or contact Poison Control if someone may have ingested a wild mushroom, even if they feel well at first.abc7+3
Los Angeles County:
Medicare home health and hospice fraud
Federal and state investigators have identified widespread concerns about potentially fraudulent or abusive home health and hospice activity in the Los Angeles region, including rapid growth in agencies and patterns of questionable billing to Medicare.[cityclerk.lacity]
Older adults and families are encouraged to verify that any home health or hospice agency is Medicare‑certified, to review paperwork carefully, and to report suspicious offers of “free” services, unsolicited sign‑ups, or pressure to share Medicare numbers. Reports can be made to Medicare, state regulators, or local law enforcement.[cityclerk.lacity]
For more information or local resources, community members can contact Project HEAL Santa Barbara County and their county's public health department.
We’re sharing an updated one-page travel advisory based on recent traveler reports and emerging travel-industry coverage, “describing rare cases where U.S. passports appear to have been flagged as lost or stolen abroad without the traveler’s knowledge.”
At this time, publicly available reporting has not confirmed the overall scale or a specific root cause, and there is “there is currently no public evidence of a widespread system failure or of a confirmed systemic cause.” However, because international travel relies on interconnected global screening systems, even isolated errors can lead to disruption across borders.
This advisory is intended to support informed, calm, and safe international travel and includes practical steps travelers can take before departure and what to say if an issue occurs abroad.
Community Travel Advisory Update: U.S. Passport Issues Abroad (Jan 2026)
Community & Coverage Readiness Statement
December 22, 2025
Following last week’s legislative action affecting the Affordable Care Act (ACA), communities across the country are entering a period of heightened uncertainty with real implications for health coverage, affordability, and access to care. While policy debates often center on statutory language and fiscal projections, the effects of these decisions are felt first—and most acutely—by individuals, families, and local health systems navigating rising costs, administrative complexity, and shifting eligibility conditions. History has shown that even when the ACA framework remains intact, changes in subsidies, guidance, or implementation timelines can produce significant downstream impacts on coverage continuity and household affordability.laist+3
Our organization is committed to supporting community and coverage readiness in this moment. Readiness goes beyond awareness. It means equipping communities, partners, and advocates to interpret policy signals, understand how they translate into real-world impacts, and identify practical steps that can be taken now to mitigate harm.
In response to recent developments, we are activating a coordinated set of tools and resources to support informed planning and decision-making:
ACA Affordability & Coverage Readiness Calculator (2026–2027)
A scenario-based planning tool that allows users to explore how changes in premiums, subsidies, and key assumptions may affect affordability and potential coverage loss. This tool is designed for education and planning—not prediction—and emphasizes transparency around assumptions, limitations, and uncertainty.americanbazaaronline+1
Learning Hub & Systems Ripple Cases
A set of learning cases that examine how policy changes—particularly procedural and funding shifts—ripple through health systems over time. These resources are designed to build policy literacy and systems thinking, helping stakeholders anticipate impacts on access, equity, and operations before they fully materialize.annualreviews+3
Community Impact & Dialogue Spaces
Ongoing efforts to document community-level impacts, elevate practitioner and community voices, and facilitate dialogue around emerging risks and mitigation strategies. These spaces are intended to inform responsive action and ensure that lived experience meaningfully shapes policy and implementation discussions.tcf+3
Uncertainty itself is a destabilizing force. When communities lack clear information, systems are pushed into reactive modes that strain providers, disrupt continuity of care, and disproportionately affect women, children, and marginalized populations. Our approach centers on clarity, preparedness, and shared learning as tools for resilience in the face of changing coverage and affordability conditions.commonwealthfund+4
This statement represents an initial response to recent legislative action. As implementation details evolve, we will continue to update our resources, engage partners, and share timely insights to support communities navigating this changing landscape. We invite policymakers, partners, and community leaders to center equity, transparency, and continuity of coverage in all forthcoming decisions—and to recognize that readiness today can prevent deeper harm tomorrow.ritterim+3
About This Statement
This Community & Coverage Readiness Statement is part of our broader commitment to advancing health literacy, strengthening community preparedness, and supporting evidence-informed dialogue at the intersection of policy and lived experience.annualreviews+1
Sources Cited