LEWISTON — Kevin Lewis, CEO of Maine Community Health Options, recently announced that Debra McKinley has joined the organization as manager, credentialing.

MCHO is a not-for-profit organization that will provide affordable health insurance to Maine people and small businesses beginning in January 2014.

McKinley has more than 20 years of experience working in health care settings. She was the physician recruiter for St. Mary’s Health System from 2006 to 2012. Prior to that, she worked as a medical staff recruiter for Central Maine Medical Center.

The responsibilities of her new role include verifying the background and licensure of providers who sign on to work with the MCHO plan and ensuring that they meet the plan’s standard of care.

She is a Maine native who lives with her extended family in Mechanic Falls.