In 3 Big Slides, Here's Why Mary Meeker Is Optimistic About The Future Of American Healthcare

Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers partner Mary Meeker has released her latest annual presentation.

In it, she gives a bullish take on the future of the U.S. healthcare system, saying it looks like it may be at an "inflection point."

Meeker lists the challenges facing the U.S. healthcare system - still-high costs, lots of waste, and rising costs for both individuals and employers.

Some recent reforms perpetrated by the Affordable Care Act, though, give her reason for optimism. More than 8 million people have gained coverage through insurance exchanges established by the law, and she writes that the law is aiding the "digitization of healthcare - 84% of hospitals and academic or institutional practices are now using a fully functioning electronic health record (EHR) system. Digital health venture investments are up almost 40% year over year.

Meeker is also bullish because of the emphasis of moving toward quality care over quantity. By 2015, 60% of employers will offer price-transparency tools in their healthcare plans, she writes.

Here are the three slides from Meeker's presentation: