Craig doctor facing drug charges due in court

A Craig doctor accused of improperly dispensing drugs that led to the deaths of two patients is due back in court Tuesday in Grand Junction.

Dr. Joel Miller was in court Wednesday for a detention hearing and arraignment on charges of health care fraud, money-laundering and distributing and dispensing controlled substances, but after more than an hour of arguments, the judge continued the hearing until Tuesday.

An indictment alleges he tried to defraud health care benefits programs by prescribing painkillers to patients who didn’t necessarily need them at dosages that could cause someone to become addicted.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Denver says Miller also is accused of pre-signing prescriptions and allowing office employees to distribute prescriptions in his absence. Miller disputes the charges.