Free prescription delivery offered

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing today an initiative that will begin offering free prescription delivery to Oconee County Citizens over the age of 60, citizens currently taking chemotherapy or cancer treatments or those quarantined due to Covid-19. This service, which is scheduled to begin next Monday, April 13th, is being offered while South Carolina is under the current Home or Work Executive Order that was issued earlier this week by Governor Henry McMaster.

“Many of us are being called to serve in ways perhaps we never thought possible during this crisis,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw. “Our deputies serve our citizens here in Oconee County every day and this initiative is another way that we can serve our citizens. Our citizens who are part of our senior population and/or those who have compromised immune symptoms are at the greatest risk from potential exposure to COVID-19. The main purpose of the Home or Work Order that we are currently under is to continue to help to mitigate the further spread of COVID-19 by discouraging the gathering of large groups of people together. It is our hope that this initiative will continue to help to further mitigate the spread of COVID-19 by protecting our most vulnerable citizens from having to leave their homes as much for this essential service of having to obtain their much needed medications.”

The program is available for the following Oconee County citizens:

• Any Oconee County citizen 60 years of age or older
• Any citizen, regardless of age who is currently taking chemotherapy or cancer treatments
• Any citizen, regardless of age, who is currently quarantined due to COVID-19

Sheriff Crenshaw says that all pharmacies in the county, with the exception of the Walmart pharmacy in Seneca and Seneca Pharmacy, will be participating in this program. The Walmart pharmacy will not be able to participate in the initiative due to corporate regulations, according to Sheriff Crenshaw. Seneca Pharmacy will not be able to participate due to regulations of not being a pharmacy set up for delivery.

Listed below are some guidelines regarding Prescription Medication Delivery and Pharmacy Guidelines as well:

Prescription Medication Delivery Guidelines

• Qualifying citizens call their pharmacy as they normally do for a prescription and inform someone a deputy will pick it up for delivery.
• The person prescribed for the medicine calls the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office at (864) 638-4117 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday to arrange a pick-up and delivery.
• The medication’s cost has been pre-paid. If special arrangements need to be made regarding payment; let the Sheriff’s office representative know ASAP so that we can work on a solution.
• The recipient must be present at delivery and show the deputy a valid photo ID to prove ownership
• Prescriptions will be left outside the door.

Pharmacy Guidelines

• Verify need of delivery based on guidelines stated.
• Make sure patient knows that they must be at home when prescription is delivered and show an ID.
• Obtain payment for prescription.
• Call Oconee County Sheriff’s office at 864-638-4117 by 2:30pm each day stating prescriptions are ready for pick up. This is being offered Monday through Friday.
• Make sure contact number for patient is on the outside of the bag in case officer needs to make contact with patient.

“Medication for some of our citizens is vital to their quality of life,” says Sheriff Crenshaw. “I know those most at risk are concerned about leaving their home during this time. This can help to eliminate one of their worries.”