VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – A new federal law enforced at the state level will place tighter restrictions on how first responders obtain, store and restock controlled substances they use to treat patients.

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act governs how EMS and fire departments handle medications listed on Schedules II through VI. It is enforced in Virginia through the Board of Pharmacy.

Firefighters and medics carry the medications in locked containers that look like tool or tackle boxes. In many departments, once first responders use medications in the field, they can swap out the entire kit at a local hospital and be ready for the next call.

“You drop off that whole toolbox or that whole kit, and then they give us a whole brand new kit,” said Virginia Fire Chiefs Association President Vance Cooper. “The ruling that’s going to go into effect in November prohibits us from being able to do that.”

The new rules mandate that departments stock up ahead of time on the drugs they need. They’ll have to be good at forecasting which drugs they use over time so they don’t run out, or just as bad, order too much and the drugs then go to waste.

“What you don’t want is departments like ours here in Hampton Roads or anywhere else buying a bunch of stuff and keeping it on hand, and not using it, going bad and it not be available,” Cooper said.

Other new restrictions will force EMS and fire departments to purchase a special storage unit with its own electronic security and dispensing system. It has to be wall-mounted so it can’t be carried away and it must be behind multiple locks. It monitors the on-hand supply of a particular drug by weight, to guard against theft and abuse.

Cooper says all of these new requirements will be especially tough on smaller, rural volunteer departments.

“They’re in areas that are struggling with just being able to keep the doors open to go on a call. Those areas are going to have much more difficulty meeting the fiscal and logistical requirements.”

Cooper says he’s hoping the Fire Chiefs Association and the Board of Pharmacy can reach some reasonable compromises on how the medications are stored and obtained. He says he will have a better handle on those negotiations in about three weeks.