SCAN Health Plan, a Long Beach-based nonprofit insurer for Medicare Advantage, has appointed Adrienne Morrell to serve as its senior vice president of public, government and community affairs.

The 41-year-old health maintenance organization said that Morrell, based in Washington D.C., would start Sept. 26.

The SCAN Health Plan, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Medicare Advantage HMOs, now serves 195,000 members in California.

In her new role at SCAN, Morrell will work side-by-side with health care policymakers and trade groups to push for legislation to advance the livelihood, health and independence of seniors.

Morrel previously served as executive vice president of federal and external affairs at America’s Health Insurance Plans. Before that, she served as vice president for government relations for Health Net Inc.

Health business reporter Dana Bartholomew can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @_DanaBart.