<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-10</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001175108</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROTECH HEALTHCARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ROHI.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133713</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLOEM JAMES H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ROTECH HEALTHCARE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2600 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORLANDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>32804</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Award (&quot;Award&quot;) granted on October 10, 2005 under the Rotech Healthcare Inc. Nonemployee Director Restricted Stock Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  The shares granted under this Award will generally vest, provided that the reporting person continues to be a nonemployee director of Rotech Healthcare Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) or as otherwise indicated under the Plan, upon the earlier of (a) October 10, 2006, or (b) the date of the next meeting of shareholders of the Company at which directors are elected.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/  Rebecca L. Myers, Attorney-in-Fact for James H. Bloem</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
