Can my employer tell me a week and a half into my time off they are not paying me? If so what can I do now?

Due to a pregnancy scare I was taken off work and put on bed rest for a week and a half. I received something in the mail from my employer that stated my sick time was exausted and now I was being placed on a Medical Leave of Absence that I would not be paid for. They then advised me to contact the EDD and apply for SDI but according to the information they provided me with I will not be paid for the 1st week of my time off. Can they really do this and shouldn't they have called me or let me know sooner (considering they have no problems calling me for questions on work when I'm off but can't call for this).