-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ioon1OPOIb8jNUjwTUFT+zcufGxltv4D+plHW69jSyHTDQjWlXUV00qcKjoSO+9W
 ZFqFyG8ayDpEyHYL/kornw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000921895-05-000501.txt : 20050415
<SEC-HEADER>0000921895-05-000501.hdr.sgml : 20050415
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050415205048
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000921895-05-000501
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050413
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050415
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050415

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROTECH HEALTHCARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175108
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING [7350]
		IRS NUMBER:				030408870
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		407-822-4600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2600 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			ORLANDO
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			32804

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEEL PARTNERS LLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001262861

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50940
		FILM NUMBER:		05755250

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 MADISON AVE
		STREET 2:		32ND FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127583232

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 MADISON AVE
		STREET 2:		32ND FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LICHTENSTEIN WARREN G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001005784
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50940
		FILM NUMBER:		05755251

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STEEL PARTNERS L P
		STREET 2:		32ND FLOOR 590 MADISON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127583232

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O STEEL PARTNERS L P
		STREET 2:		750 LEXINGTON AVENUE 27TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEEL PARTNERS II LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000915653

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50940
		FILM NUMBER:		05755252

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		590 MADISON AVENUE
		STREET 2:		32ND FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-758-3232

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		590 MADISON AVENUE, 32ND FLOOR
		CITY:			NY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STEEL PARTNERS II L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950627
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>ste17.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000915653</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEEL PARTNERS II LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>590 MADISON AVENUE, 32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001005784</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LICHTENSTEIN WARREN G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>590 MADISON AVENUE, 32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262861</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEEL PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O STEEL PARTNERS II, L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>590 MADISON AVENUE, 32ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.0001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>458000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.0532</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4105950</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.0001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.6750</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4109950</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is filed jointly by Warren G. Lichtenstein, Steel Partners, L.L.C. (&quot;Steel LLC&quot;) and Steel Partners II, L.P. (&quot;Steel LP&quot;). Mr. Lichtenstein and Steel LLC are deemed to be 10% owners of the Issuer and Steel LP is a 10% owner of the Issuer. The securities reported in this Form 4 are owned directly by Steel LP, and owned indirectly by Steel LLC by virtue of it being the general partner of Steel LP and by Mr. Lichtenstein by virtue of his position as the sole executive officer and managing member of Steel LLC. Steel LLC and Mr. Lichtenstein disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares owned by Steel LP except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Steel Partners II, L.P., By: Steel Partners, L.L.C., General Partner, By: /s/ Warren G. Lichtenstein, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Steel Partners, L.L.C., By: /s/ Warren G. Lichtenstein, Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Lichtenstein, Warren G.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----