Driving the Future of Payment Integrity: A Conversation with Tom Noack, SVP of Product Strategy

Amanda Bair: Tom, welcome to ClarisHealth. You have spent the last 25+ years standing in our community’s shoes. Now that you’re on the other side shaping product strategy, what are you most excited to change? 

Tom Noack: Thanks, Amanda. It’s good to be here. I wouldn’t say “change” so much as improve or continue to excel in areas that matter most. Like integrating PI more deeply into its value across communities. What we do in the PI space is essential to the healthcare system, especially with the growing pressure on payers to manage administrative costs and show real return on investment.

Ultimately, it comes down to: how are we turning that value around for the payer and for the members we serve? I’m excited to bring my client-side experience into this role to help ClarisHealth show up differently—or even better than we already do—to deliver tools that help our clients be more productive and reduce costs.

AB: What’s your vision for where the Pareo platform is headed in the next 12–24 months? 

TN: A big part of the vision is about standardization. The industry is still pretty fragmented. And while everyone has slightly different approaches, we need to start aligning more around common standards.

The other big driver is AI. We’ve seen it used extensively on the provider side and in certain payer functions like prior authorization. Now we’re looking at how we can apply those same AI-driven efficiencies to PI: automating tasks, improving decision-making, and driving toward self-service for our clients. That’s going to be a huge part of our story heading into 2026.

AB: There’s so much opportunity for growing the Pareo platform to further enhance payment integrity operations. How are you deciding what to prioritize? 

TN: I’m very data-driven. Over the next 90 days, I want to connect directly with clients to understand their biggest obstacles and priorities. Where is their PI program headed? What features will help them get there?

I also look closely at how users are actually spending their time in the system. That data tells us a lot—where we can be more efficient, what might need to change, and where we can add real value. Those insights, combined with direct client conversations, will shape the roadmap.

AB: What changes will users notice soon that reflect your leadership? 

TN: You’ll start seeing more product representation in conversations with clients. More outreach, more focus groups, more feedback loops. Before we start developing a feature, we want to validate that it’s the right move by engaging with users early and often.

We’re also working closely with our growth team to make sure the solutions we build meet new client needs from day one. That kind of transparency and collaboration is something I plan to strengthen.

AB: How should clients partner with you as the strategy evolves? 

TN: Feedback. Someone once told me feedback is a gift—good or bad—and I truly believe that. Whether it’s telling us what’s working well so we don’t lose sight of it, or where there’s room to improve, I want clients to be vocal and honest. That feedback will help us stay aligned and deliver better results, together.

AB: On a personal note, where do you turn for inspiration outside of work? 

TN: My family comes first. I’m lucky to have a wonderful wife and three kids, including two teenagers and a seven-year-old, so they keep me grounded and busy.

And when I need some quiet time, I have a passion for horse racing. There’s something really peaceful about being at the track, listening to the horses, and just taking it all in. It’s a great way to recharge.

Closing Thoughts

With his unique perspective as a former PI leader and his strong belief in collaboration, Tom Noack is set to guide ClarisHealth’s product strategy into a more standardized, AI-enabled, client-informed future. His focus on transparency, efficiency, and feedback-driven innovation promises to bring meaningful change to PI teams across the health plan landscape.

Welcome aboard, Tom. We’re excited to see what’s next.