PayForward Appoints Sandy Spitale as Chief Innovation Officer to Transform Healthcare Solutions

PayForward Welcomes Sandy Spitale as Chief Innovation Officer

VALENCIA, Calif., February 4, 2026 – PayForward, a frontrunner in healthcare solutions tailored for health plans, has announced the appointment of Sandy Spitale as the company’s new Chief Innovation Officer. With over 20 years of extensive experience in both clinical and business leadership roles, Sandy is poised to lead the charge in developing innovative, member-focused products that aim to enhance health outcomes and adapt to the evolving demands of health plans.

Sandy has built an impressive career in healthcare, having spent 15 years at Humana where she directed clinical operations across the nation. Her qualifications encompass a wide array of attributes including utilization management, care management, and quality improvement initiatives, particularly in the realms of Star and HEDIS ratings as well as home health solutions. Most recently, she was the Chief Clinical Officer at Ochsner Health System, where she supervised clinical operations, pharmacy, appeals, grievances, and quality improvement while promoting a value-based care model.

During her tenure, Sandy has developed a philosophy centered on the belief that healthcare innovation must drive improvements in access, quality, and outcomes. This foundational belief will influence her approach in crafting solutions expected to yield significant benefits for both health plans and their members. Her dual perspective as a registered nurse and an MBA graduate allows her to effectively merge clinical insights with business strategies, ensuring that PayForward’s solutions are tailored to meet the specific needs of health plans.

"I consider myself a patient advocate first," shared Spitale. "My objective is to enhance PayForward's solid foundation by creating solutions that are in harmony with the unique regional needs and strategic goals of each health plan. This approach will not only enhance member experiences but also yield insights that facilitate the success of the plans."

In her new role, Sandy will concentrate on broadening PayForward's portfolio of products to include programs focused on rewards and incentives that encourage healthy member behaviors while addressing care gaps. Additionally, she intends to prioritize improved reporting capabilities to provide actionable, data-driven insights to health plans.

Dan Chambers, EVP and Chief Revenue Officer of PayForward, expressed enthusiasm about Sandy's addition to the team, stating, "Bringing Sandy on board is a major milestone for PayForward. Her extensive expertise in health plans and her dedication to member advocacy will strengthen our mission to deliver agile, impactful solutions."

For more insights into PayForward and the innovative approaches being fostered, visit PayForward's website.

About PayForward

PayForward is a benefits platform designed specifically for health plans, providing a tailored experience for each plan and its members. With robust funding capabilities, enterprise-grade security, and proactive leadership, PayForward assists health plans in generating engagement, streamlining operations, and achieving measurable returns on investments.